KPK Summons Forestry Ministry's Officials Over Riau Governor's Case

Jakarta, Oct 16 (Antara) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KKP) investigators summoned two top officials of the Forestry Ministry as witnesses in the alleged corruption case of Riau Governor Annas Maamun here Thursday. The Forestry Ministry`s officials were Director of Environmental Services and Utilization of Conservation Areas and Protected Forests Bambang Supriyanto, and Director of Forest Area Planning Masyhud, the KPK spokesman Priharsa Nugraha said. They were sommoned along with the ministry`s civil servant in Riau Province named Cecep Iskandar, he said. Annas Maamun was recently caught red handed by the KPK in Jakarta along with a number of people including a Riau businessman named Gulat Manurung. The KPK investigators then named him as a suspect for allegedly receiving a bribe in connection with the issuance of license to convert forests into plantation in Riau with a maximum jail term of five years. They also named Gulat Manurung, a palm oil businessman, a suspect for allegedly bribing the governor. During the recent arrest, the KPK investigators confiscated money worth more than Rp2 billion including 156 Singaporean dollars and Rp500 million from the suspects.