Former Regent Of Muara Enim Becomes A Suspect In The Gratification Case For The Change Of Forest Function

Illustration (Pixabay)

JAKARTA - The South Sumatra High Prosecutor's Office named the former Regent of Muara Enim for the 2014-2018 period, Muzakir Sai Sohar, as a suspect and at the same time detained him and three other people in a case of alleged gratification of the conversion of production forest land in 2014.

Acting Head of the South Sumatra High Prosecutor's Office, Oktavianus said that the three other suspects who were also detained were former President Director of PT Perkebunan Mitra Ogan, Anjapri, former Head of Accounting for PT Perkebunan Mitra Ogan, Yan Satyananda, and consultant Abunawar Basyeban.

"The four are suspected of being involved in gratification of the conversion of production forest land into permanent forest in Muara Enim Regency in 2014 with a state loss of Rp. 5.8 billion," he said as quoted by Antara, Friday, November 13.

He said that for the time being, Sohar was being detained by the city because the results of the rapid test showed he was reactive, while the other three suspects were detained at the Pakjo prison in Palembang.

Oktavianus explained that the forest conversion project was allegedly fictitious, assuming there was no activity, PT Perkebunan Mitra Ogan allegedly bribed Sohar as regent when he issued a recommendation letter for land conversion in 2014.

The bribe is suspected of using PT Perkebunan Mitra Ogan funds amounting to IDR 8.5 billion with a state loss of IDR 5.8 billion. The four of them were also detained to facilitate the investigation process and so as not to run away or lose any evidence.

"Meanwhile, the evidence that we confiscated was in the form of Rp200 million in the bank account," said Oktavianus.