Riau Governor Allegedly Plans to Turn Protected Areas into Resort
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12 July 2019 08:45 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named Riau Islands Governor Nurdin Basirun suspect in the alleged bribery of a permit for reclamation plan in the province. The permit was planned to be used to built tourist resorts.
The commission deputy head Basaria Panjaitan revealed a businessperson named Abu Bakar proposed a permit to use the sea for reclamation in Tanjung Piayu, Batam, in May 2019. In the permit, Bakar planned to develop resorts and tourist attractions in 10.2 hectares area.
“While Tanjung Piayu is functioned as a cultivation area and protected forests,” said Basaria in his office during a press conference, Jakarta, Thursday, July 11.
The anti-graft body suspected Nurdin of receiving bribe money from Abu Bakar directly or through Edy Sofyan several times. On May 30, the governor got Sing$5,000 and Rp45 million and Sing$6,000 on July 10, via Budi Hartono.
In addition to Nurdin Basaria, KPK named the province’s head of Maritime and Fisheries Agency Edy Sofyan and the agency division head Budi Hartono as bribe recipients as well Abu Bakar as a bribe giver.
DIAS PRASONGKO
