Witness: District Head receives Rp1.5 billion from PT RAPP

Witness: District Head receives Rp1.5 billion from PT RAPP

Source: EoF News - June 16, 2008

PEKANBARUA witness on the trial of Pelalawan District Head Azmun Jaafar in Jakarta told the judges last week that the defendant received at least Rp 1.5 billion from PT Riau Andalan Pulp & Paper (RAPP) as a gratification for issuing forestry operation license for the subsidiary of Asia Pacific Resources International Holding Limited (APRIL).

Suara Karya reported Monday (16/6/2008) that Hambali, staff of Pelalawan District Forestry Service, said that Azmun set up companies to grant logging license he issued before the firms taken over by PT RAPP, APRIL affiliated company.

Azmun is charged by Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) over allegedly receiving bribes from pulp companies which cause the State suffer loss of Rp 1.2 trillion, the report said.In his testimony at the trial held Friday (13/6/2008) in Corruption Court, Jakarta, Hambali initially set up and managed CV Harapan Jaya, where PT PKS and PT RAPP gave him money Rp 2.8 billion for issuing Annual Working Plan (RKT), Tribun Pekanbaru daily reported last weekend (14/6/2008).

Hambali said he gave Rp 1.5 billion money to Azmun, the District Head, following the issuance of RKT logging license for the companies that finally taken over by PT RAPP (APRIL subsidiary), Tribun reported.“Because the companies’ licenses were handled by the District Head,” Hambali told the court.

Kompas daily reported (14/6/2008) that Hambali handed over Rp 600 million to Riau Forestry Service Head, Asral Rahman, as gratification for RKT license issued by the province institution for APRIL affiliated companies, CV Harapan Jaya and CV Madukoro.”I received Rp 600 million from staff of PT PKS [Persada Karya Sejati] for administrating RKT. The money I handed over to Asral Rahman,” Hambali, the witness said.

The prosecutors of the case accused Hambali and Budi Surlani were ordered by District Head Azmun to find companies to get pulpwood plantation licenses. Some of 15 companies had been taken over by PT RAPP, APRIL subsidiary, Kompas daily reported.Hambali had met Rosman, General Manager Forestry PT RAPP, in setting plans to get RKT for the companies. Rosman, who concurrently staff of PT PKS, now is at large as he allegedly involved in the gratification case, the reports said.