Regent Denies Giving Envelope to Minister Amid Graft Probe

Suhardiman Amby, the Regent of Kuantan Singingi, has denied providing an envelope containing an unknown sum to Indonesian Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni. Amby stated he was unaware of the envelope's contents and denied being the one who delivered it, speaking after an examination at the KPK's Merah Putih building in Jakarta.

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Which one? I don't know the contents. It wasn't me (who gave it).

This statement contradicts accounts from both Minister Raja Juli and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). Raja Juli had previously stated in a written release on July 3, 2026, that he returned the envelope from the Kuansing Regent approximately 17 days before the KPK conducted a sting operation targeting Suhardiman Amby. Raja Juli explained that the envelope was left behind after an official meeting at the Ministry of Forestry on June 2.

Raja Juli asserted that he was unaware of the envelope's contents and immediately instructed his aide to return it. "During that audience, it turned out that the Regent of Kuansing left an envelope closed with a folder, and when he left, I asked my aide to return the envelope. I don't know what was inside, but I felt I had no right to that envelope," Raja Juli said.

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During that audience, it turned out that the Regent of Kuansing left an envelope closed with a folder, and when he left, I asked my aide to return the envelope. I don't know what was inside, but I felt I had no right to that envelope.

He further reported the envelope as a rejected gratuity to the KPK, which has analyzed the report. Based on KPK Regulation No. 1 of 2026, which amends KPK Regulation No. 2 of 2019 on Gratuity Reporting, Raja Juli's report of a rejected gratuity might not be pursued further by the KPK. Article 14 of the regulation outlines conditions under which gratuity reports are not followed up, including for items that are perishable, cannot be sold, or cannot be used.

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Therefore, I asked my aide to return the envelope.