Indonesian MP Urges Minister to Report Alleged Gratification to KPK

A member of the Indonesian House of Representatives' Commission IV, Firman Soebagyo, has criticized the Minister of Forestry, Raja Juli, for his handling of an alleged gratification. Soebagyo stated that Juli's action of returning an envelope, suspected to contain gratification from the Regent of Kuantan Singingi, Suhardiman Amby, directly to the giver, bypassing the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), is improper.

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The correct procedure for returning gratification is to the KPK, not to the giver. This is to ensure transparency and accountability. Returning it to the giver is not recognized in the Corruption Eradication Law and could create new legal problems.

Soebagyo emphasized that Indonesian law, specifically Articles 12B and 12C of Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption, mandates that state officials receiving gratification must report it to the KPK within 30 working days. "The correct procedure for returning gratification is to the KPK, not to the giver. This is to ensure transparency and accountability. Returning it to the giver is not recognized in the Corruption Eradication Law and could create new legal problems," the Golkar Party politician stated in a written statement on Monday, July 6, 2026.

The lawmaker urged Raja Juli to provide a public explanation regarding the chronology of the alleged gratification. He insisted that the envelope received by the Minister, a politician from the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), should be immediately reported and handed over to the KPK. "Reporting to the KPK within 30 days is a form of legal protection for every state official," added the Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN).

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Reporting to the KPK within 30 days is a form of legal protection for every state official.

While Commission IV respects the principle of presumption of innocence, Soebagyo noted that alleged gratification involving public officials is a serious matter requiring scrutiny and oversight from the DPR. The commission will exercise its oversight function by seeking explanations from the Ministry of Forestry and coordinating with the KPK to ensure the process adheres to legal corridors. He reminded all officials to maintain integrity in the forestry sector, given its management of strategic natural resources. The KPK has echoed similar sentiments, with Acting Director of Investigation Achmad Taufik Husein stating that reporting alleged gratifications is a mandatory obligation for all state officials. Raja Juli had previously explained that the envelope was left by the Regent of Kuantan Singingi after a meeting on June 2, 2026, and he only became aware of its presence after the regent had departed.

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Yes, it should be the awareness of the state official concerned.