Summons Head Of BPN Kampar, KPK Investigate Inappropriate Recommendations For Application For Extension Of Oil Palm Plantation HGU Permits

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is investigating allegations of inappropriate recommendations by the National Land Agency (BPN) of Kampar Regency regarding the extension of the right to cultivate (HGU) permits for oil palm plantations.

This was done by examining the Head of the Kampar Regency BPN Sri Ambar Kusumawati as a witness to complete the file belonging to the inactive Kuantan Singingi (Kuansing) Regent Andi Putra who became a suspect. The examination was conducted on Wednesday, November 3rd.

"Located at the Riau Police Ditreskrimsus Office, Pekanbaru, the investigative team has examined a number of witnesses for the suspect AP," Acting KPK Spokesperson for Enforcement Affairs Ali Fikri told reporters, Thursday, November 4.

In addition to the Head of the Kampar Regency BPN, the KPK also examined nine other witnesses. They are the Head of Rights Determination and Registration at the Riau Province Land Regional Office, Umar Fathoni; Head of Land Procurement and Development at the Riau Province Land Regional Office, Hermen; and the Head of Land Problem Handling and Control at the Riau Province Land Regional Office, Tarbarita Simorangkir.

The next witnesses who were examined were the Head of the Plantation Office of Riau Province, Zulfadli; Space Utilization Analyst at the Department of PUPR, Tarkim and Land Affairs of Riau Province, Febrian Indrawarman; Young Engineer at the Department of Energy and Mineral Resources of Riau Province, Anton Suprojo; and Head of Mapping Survey at the District Land Office. Kuantan Singingi, Ruskandi.

"All witnesses were present and the investigative team is still continuing to investigate the alleged intervention by the suspect AP in granting the HGU permit with a package of giving a sum of money in the form of a fee and also a recommendation for licensing from certain parties at the BPN which should not be used as a requirement for submitting the said HGU. " said Ali.

In this case, the KPK has named Andi Putra and General Manager of PT Adimulia Agrolestari, Sudarso, as suspects in the bribery case for plantation permits. This allegation began when PT Adimulia Agrolestari applied for an extension of the Right to Cultivate (HGU) starting in 2019 and ending in 2024.

The proposal stated that each company must build a partnership garden of at least 20 percent of the HGU in the Kuansing area. However, the company actually made it in Kampar Regency, not in Kuansing Regency.

Even so, Sudarso still submitted a letter of application to Andi to approve it. However, the agreement was reached with the provision of money twice, namely in September of Rp. 500 million and October of Rp. 200 million.

As a result of this action, the KPK then named Andi and Sudarso as suspects. The two suspects were detained in two different places, namely the KPK Detention Center at the Jaya Guntur Pomdam Branch and the Merah Putih building.