KPK Cecar Pejabat Kemenhut dan ATR/BPN Soal Izin Pelepasan Kawasan Hutan di Kuansing

KPK spokesperson, Budi Prasetyo (Tsa Tsia/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is investigating the management of permits for the release of limited production forest areas (HPT) in the Kuantan Singingi Regency (Kuansing) area. Two witnesses have been questioned, namely Suprapto as the Head of the Regional Forest Area Strengthening Sub-Directorate of the Regional Forest Strengthening Directorate and Dalu Agung Darmawan as the Director General of Agrarian Planning of the Ministry of Agrarian and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) on Thursday, July 23.

"There are two witnesses who were examined by investigators, from the Ministry of Forestry. Of course this is related to the permit to release forest areas in the Kuansing area and also from the Ministry of ATR/BPN," said KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo to reporters at the KPK Red and White building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Thursday, July 24.

Budi said the investigation was carried out because the non-active Regent of Kuansing, Suhardiman Ambi, was suspected of collecting money from farmers who were members of the village unit cooperative (KUD) to handle the release of forest areas.

The process is said to still have links to the Land Object Agrarian Reform (TORA) program under the Ministry of ATR/BPR. "To be able to do this, of course, for areas that are still in the forest area, of course, it needs to be released from the forest area permit," he said.

"... when you have obtained the forest release permit, then this program in ATR/BPN can continue."

Meanwhile, the acting director of the KPK Investigation Directorate, Achmad Taufik Husein, said that the investigation into the alleged bribery in Kuansing Regency was still ongoing. The search for evidence of the actions of the non-active Regent Suhardiman Amby et al who were caught in the hand-capture operation (OTT) and the provision of envelopes to the Minister of Forestry (Menhut) Raja Juli Antoni continues.

"Whether there is a request or what it is, yes, it is being investigated," Taufik told reporters quoted on Monday, July 13.

Taufik explained that investigators had obtained Suhardiman's confession about the provision related to the management of permits for the release of the Terbata Production Forest (HPT) area.

The money was allegedly from farmers who were members of the village unit cooperative (KUD). "Whether it then brings with the intention to be related to the request for a recommendation or not, it depends on the process that is underway," he said.

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.

The KPK also found other alleged receipts made by Suhardiman related to the process of releasing Limited Production Forest (HPT) areas. 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.