KPK admits it cannot check the contents of the envelope for Menhut Raja Juli because it has been returned

KPK spokesperson, Budi Prasetyo (Tsa Tsia/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) admitted that the check of the envelope left by the non-active Regent of Kuantan Singingi (Kuansing) Suhardiman Amby for the Minister of Forestry (Menhut) Raja Juli Antoni could not be done. Because, the gift was immediately returned instead of being reported on the first occasion.

This was conveyed by KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo when asked about the contents of the envelope that the Secretary General of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) claimed was left on his desk during an audience in early June.

He said that the goods were also not included in the gratification report submitted by Raja Juli after the hand-in-hand (OTT) operation was held.

"Regarding the details of the contents of the envelope, because this envelope has been returned by the Minister to the Regent, it is not included in the report of the rejection of gratification. So, we are here, we have not checked, yes, the contents of the envelope," said Budi to reporters at the KPK Red and White building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, quoted on Wednesday, July 8.

Budi explained that this envelope affair is now in the realm of enforcement and prevention. So, the anti-corruption commission will conduct further in-depth investigations by examining a number of witnesses and evidence that have been obtained.

"So related to this incident, this is a cross between enforcement and prevention. This means that in the enforcement there is a connection that the envelope was given by the suspect, namely brother SA as the Regent of Kuansing who is suspected of being related to the management of forest area release permits," he said.

"Then the envelope was received by the Minister in the context of prevention, the report of the refusal of gratification," he continued.

As for the contents of the envelope, said Budi, it was suspected to come from the residual business results (SHU) of hundreds of farmers who are members of the village unit cooperative (KUD) in Kuansing Regency. The money was then converted into foreign currency.

"In the collection of money, it is suspected that the money collected was then converted into Singapore dollars," he said.

Raja Juli, in a press conference after the silent operation was held, admitted that Kuansing Regent Suhardiman Amby had left a sealed envelope after an audience at the Ministry of Forestry on June 2, 2026.

He then ordered his aide to return the envelope on June 5, 2026. However, the plan was delayed because his aide had to accompany him in the agenda of the service.

Furthermore, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Forestry then issued a letter of assignment to his aide on June 11, 2026. In addition, Raja Juli admitted that he contacted the Riau Police Chief to help bring his aide and the Regent of Kuansing together.

The return of the envelope, he claimed, was made on June 12, 2026 at the Kuantan Singingi Police and was documented and accompanied by a receipt.

As previously reported, the KPK named three people as suspects in the alleged bribery of the filling of the Kuansing Regent's post after conducting a hand-in-hand operation (OTT) on Monday, June 29. They are Kuansing Regent Suhardiman Amby, Kuansing Regent Zulkarnain, and Ardiles as President Director of PT Mitra Ideal Consultant.

In the construction of the case, Suhardiman allegedly asked for one unit of Toyota Land Cruiser 300 GR-S worth around Rp2.05 billion to the participants of the selection for the position of the Regional Secretary.

The request was fulfilled by Zulkarnain who bought the vehicle through a credit scheme using Ardiles' identity for financing applications.

In addition, the KPK also found other alleged receipts made by Suhardiman related to the process of releasing the Limited Production Forest (HPT) area. Investigators are said to be tracing the amount of receipts, the mechanism of giving to the party suspected of receiving at the Ministry of Forestry