JAKARTA (Yosefardi) – Chief of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Abraham Samad revealed that KPK will continue investigating the role of the Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Zulkifli Hasan in the process of issuing forest area conversion permit in Riau province.

Abraham, however, said KPK cannot prematurely conclude that former Minister of Forestry is involved in the forest area conversion bribery scandal implicating non-active Riau Governor and Golkar Party politician Annas Maamun.

“KPK cannot suddenly names someone who has been examined as suspect. We need evidences,” Abraham said.

As reported earlier, KPK’s prosecutor team mentioned Zulkifli Hasan’s name when reading Annas Maamun’s indictment in a trial of Riau forest area conversion bribery scandal, Monday (Dec. 15).

According to KPK’s prosecutor team, Zulkifli, during his tenure as Forestry Minister, made a checklist of his approval over a part of forest area conversion in Riau proposed by Annas Maamun.

Zulkifli has been examined as a witness in this case. The politician from the National Mandate Party (PAN) was also examined as a witness in another forest area conversion bribery scandal implicating PT Bukit Jonggol Asri (BJA). (haryantosuharman@yosefardi.com)