The reason why the Regent of Kuansing left money on the table of King Juli during the audience will be the focus of the KPK

KPK spokesperson, Budi Prasetyo (Tsa Tsia/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) will investigate the reason why the Regent of Kuantan Singingi (Kuansing) Suhardiman Amby left an envelope on the table of the Minister of Forestry (Menhut) Raja Juli Antoni. This process is carried out to strengthen the evidence and initial information that has been collected from the hand-catching operation (OTT) some time ago.

This was conveyed by KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo in response to the existence of an envelope containing money from Suhardiman Amby for the Secretary General of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) which was allegedly related to the release of limited production forest areas (HPT) in Kuansing Regency.

"Of course, later we will need other evidence to add to the initial evidence that has been obtained in the investigation or investigation process in the Kuansing case. Including, later the details of how much money, what the breakdown is, the purpose and purpose of the money given by the regent to the minister for what," said Budi to reporters at the KPK Red and White building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, quoted Wednesday, July 8.

"Because from the initial information we received, the money was suspected to be related to the process of handling the release of forest area permits in the Kuansing area," he continued.

Furthermore, Budi said, the money in the envelope was allegedly collected from hundreds of members of the village unit cooperative (KUD). The HPT land to be managed is said to reach 1,828 hectares.

Meanwhile, the acting director of KPK Investigation, Achmad Taufik Husein, said his party had already obtained information from Suhardiman Amby regarding the handover of the money. The information then became part of the investigation into the alleged corruption related to the management of the HPT area release.

"Yes, it will be part of what will be investigated by investigators. Meanwhile, the statement from the regent is only one party," Taufik told reporters at the KPK's Red and White building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, early Saturday, July 4.

As for Raja Juli, in a press conference after the silent operation was held, he admitted that the Regent of Kuansing 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 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.