Investigation into Riau Senior Officials Hampered
Wednesday, 23 April, 2008 | 16:29 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Up until yesterday (22/4), President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had not granted permission for the investigation of four regents in Riau in connection with illegal logging that allegedly involves two giant paper factories there.

The request for this permission was submitted to the Indonesia Police Headquarters on 27 September 2007.


The cabinet secretary Sudi Silalahi said the letter had not yet been processed.

“It is not finished yet,” said Sudi while accompanying President Yudhoyono with Sultan Hajj Hassanal Bolkiah at the State Palace, central Jakarta, yesterday, refusing to explain the delay.

The four regents who are under investigation are: Raja Thamsir Rachman from Indragiri Hulu; H. Anas Makmun from Rokan Hilir; Burhanuddin Husein from Kampar; and Tengku Azmun Jaafar from Pelalawan.

“The police have not investigated me,” Burhanuddin told Tempo while Agus, the adjutant of Raja Thamsir Rachman, said that Raja Thamsir has not acknowledged the case.

Tempo could not reach Anas Makmun.

These four regents are being investigated as regards permission that they have given.

The investigators will also ask Riau governor Rusli Zainal in connection with the same case.

“The governor has left for Singapore. We do not know when he will come back,” said Afrizal, a staff member at the Riau Governor's office.


The Riau Regional Police have sent a letter to the Indonesian Police Headquarters requesting the President to grant permission for them to interview the governor.

The letter sent by the Criminal Investigation Division of the Riau Regional Police in July 2007.

Up until yesterday, the Indonesian Police Headquarters had not processed the letter.

Commissioner General Bambang Hendarso Danuri, Head of the Criminal Investigation Division of the Indonesian Police, denied that he had ignored the letter.

He said the investigation will be executed gradually as the police are waiting for the investigative reports over these regents.

“If it is proven that they are involved, the police then will investigate the governor.”

Riau Regional Police spokesperson Commissioner I Zulkifli said the police have not investigated the regents.

“We are still coordinating this,” he said.

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