Thursday 5 June 2008

KPK grills lawmaker over forest permit

KPK grills lawmaker over forest permit

Source: The Jakarta Post - May 30, 2008 The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Lawmaker Usamah Muhammad Al Hadar of the United Development Party (PPP) faced questioning by the graft body here Thursday.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) questioned the lawmaker, a member of the House of Representative's Commission III overseeing legal affairs, in relation to alleged graft in a forest conversion in Bintan, Riau Islands.

KPK spokesman Johan Budi confirmed the interview had taken place, but refused to give further details on Usamah's role in the bribery case, which involved Al Amin Nasution -- also a lawmaker from the PPP and a member of Commission IV overseeing agriculture, forestry and fisheries.

Al Amin was caught by the KPK in a hotel in South Jakarta last month allegedly in the act of accepting a bribe from the Bintan administration in relation to the regency's request to convert a conservation forest into an office complex. -- JP