KPK Questions Forestry Minister Zulkifli Over Selling of Protected Forests

Jakarta Globe, Rizky Amelia, Jun 24, 2014

Zulkifli Hasan has been questioned by the Corruption Eradication Commission

Jakarta. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Tuesday questioned the forestry minister Zulkifli Hasan as a witness in an alleged attempt to sell off 2,754 hectares of protected forests to a developer in Bogor, West Java.

“He will be questioned as a witness for one of the suspects, Yohay Yap,” KPK spokesman Priharsa Nugraha said on Tuesday, referring to Franciscus Xaverius Yohan Yap, the director of developer Bukit Jonggol Asri.

Bukit Jonggol Asria is alleged to have bribed Bogor mayor Rahmat Yasin to acquire a recommendation letter for the project — which would have eliminated one of the hurdles to transferring the protected forests.

Rahmat, a politician from the Islamic-based United Development Party (PPP), was named a suspect by the KPK in May for allegedly accepting Rp 4.5 billion ($390,000) from Bukit Jonggol Asri.

Zukifli arrived at the KPK headquarter at 10 a.m. He declined to comment to journalists.

KPK chief Abraham Samad previously said Rahmad was caught red handed with Rp 1.5 billion, but that other payments had been made prior to the arrest.

The KPK also named the head of Bogor’s agriculture and forestry agency, Muhammad Zairin, a suspect in the graft case.