Kuansing Regent Denies Giving Envelope to Forestry Minister Raja Juli

Kuantan Singingi (Kuansing) Regent Suhardiman Amby has denied giving an envelope to Indonesian Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni. Suhardiman also claimed he did not know the contents of the envelope. “Which one? I don’t know what was inside. It wasn’t me (who gave it),” Suhardiman said after undergoing questioning at the KPK’s Merah Putih Building in Jakarta on Friday (17/7). The statement contradicts the accounts of Raja Juli and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). In a written statement dated 3 July 2026, Raja Juli said he had returned the envelope given by the Kuansing regent. He said the envelope was returned to the giver approximately 17 days before the KPK conducted a sting operation against Suhardiman. Raja Juli explained that he initially held an audience with the Kuansing regent at the Ministry of Forestry office on Tuesday (2/6). He said the meeting was conducted officially and openly, preceded by a request for an audience from the regional government, publicised via social media, and accompanied by an attendance list and minutes ready to be submitted to the KPK if required. After the meeting, Raja Juli claimed he only realised there was a sealed envelope left behind by the Kuansing regent. Raja Juli claimed he did not know the contents of the envelope and immediately ordered his aide to return it. “During the audience, it turned out that the Kuansing Regent left an envelope covered with a folder, and when he left I asked my aide to return the envelope. I don’t know what was inside, but I felt I had no right to the envelope,” Raja Juli said in a written statement on Friday (3/7). “Therefore, I asked my aide to return the envelope,” he continued. Raja Juli also reported the envelope as a gratuity rejection to the KPK. The anti-corruption agency has completed its analysis of the matter and sent it to Raja Juli. The process and mechanism for handling gratuity reports are based on KPK Regulation Number 1 of 2026, which amends Commission Regulation Number 2 of 2019 on Gratuity Reporting. Based on Perkom 1/2026, Raja Juli’s gratuity rejection report may not be followed up by the KPK. Article 14 of the regulation states that a gratuity report is not followed up if the object of the gratuity is perishable, cannot be sold, or cannot be used; the receipt of the gratuity is reported incorrectly or not in accordance with statutory provisions; it is known that an investigation, inquiry, or prosecution is being conducted by law enforcement; and/or it is suspected of being related to a criminal act. The KPK stated it will further investigate Raja Juli’s involvement in the Kuansing regent case during the ongoing investigation process. Suhardiman Amby, along with Kuansing Regional Secretary Zulkarnain and PT Mitra Ideal Consultant Director Ardiles, were named suspects by the KPK in an alleged bribery case related to positions. The suspects are currently detained for 20 days until 20 July 2026 at the KPK’s Merah Putih Building Detention Centre. Suhardiman, as the recipient, is charged with violating Article 12 letter a or letter b and/or Article 12 B of the Corruption Eradication Law. Meanwhile, Zulkarnain and Ardiles, as the givers, are charged with violating Article 605 or Article 606 paragraph (1) of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code in conjunction with Law Number 1 of 2026 concerning Criminal Adjustments in conjunction with Article 20 letter c of the Criminal Code.