Former official detained for foresty corruption case in Indonesia

Former Riau Forestry Service Head and Ex Kampar District Head, Burhanuddin Husein, was detained by Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in Jakarta yesterday, for accusation of misusuing his authority in issuing logging licenses for pulpwood conversion in Pelalawan District during 2005-2006. Burhanuddin Husein was detained after being named suspect in 2008. Johan Budi, spokesperson of KPK, told media that Burhanuddin’s case is related to Azmun Jaafar, former Pelalawan District Head, whom sentenced to 11 year imprisonment in 2009 by KPK court, Tribun Pekanbaru daily reported Wednesday.

Azmun Jaafar was found guilty in receiving bribes and for issuing 15 logging licenses to timber companies which affiliated to pulp giants Asian Pacific Resources International Holding Limited (APRIL) and Asia Pulp & Paper (APP).

Azmun was accused of causing IDR 1.2 billion loss to the State for the corruption that he conducted collectively, KPK judge said in 2009.

Johan said Burhanuddin would be detained for 20 days and it was extendable for the sake of further investigation, detiknews website reported.

Last month, Arwin was sentenced by judges of KPK to 4 year imprisonment for forestry corruption case following former Riau Forestry Service Head Asral Rachman with 5 years in jail.

EoF learned that nobody from timber companies whom brought to Justice for the cases of corruption in logging licenses issuance as those officials experienced. Early in this month, ICW said that 15 timber companies in Riau province should be prosecuted for allegedly involving in forestry corruption along with 11-year imprisoned former Pelalawan District Head Azmun Jaafar.

“KPK [corruption eradication commission] needs to investigate further alleged involvement of 15 companies,” said ICW activist, Tama S. Langkun, Rakyatmerdeka online reported last week (3/12). Tama added that the 15 companies that cited in final decision by Jakarta High Court could be brought to justice by examining their role in abusing authority in converting forest.