JAKARTA (Yosefardi) – The prosecutor team from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) mentioned name of former Minister of Forestry Zulkifli Hasan in the Monday’s (Dec. 15) trial of a bribery case related to the issuance of the forest area conversion permit implicating non-active Riau Governor and Golkar Party politician Annas Maamun, Kompas.com reported.
When reading the indictment of Annas Maamun, one of KPK’s prosecutors Ikhsan Fernandi revealed that Zulkifli, at that time serving as Forestry Minister, made a checklist of his approval over a part of forest area conversion in Riau proposed by Annas Maamun.
The prosecutor said the forest area conversion of 1,700 hectares approved by Zulkifli was aimed to the development of toll road, provincial road, Muara Takus Temple, and plantation area for the poor in Rokan Hilir regency.
According to the prosecutor, Zulkifli also orally made his approval over 30,000 hectares of other forest area conversion in Riau.
As reported earlier, KPK has examined Zulkifli Hasan as a witness in the case. Zulkifli was also examined as a witness in another forest area conversion bribery scandal implicating PT Bukit Jonggol Asri (BJA).
Zulkifli, a politician from the National Mandate Party (PAN), is now serving as Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR). (haryantosuharman@yosefardi.com)