Indonesian governor latest official busted for bribes in environmental case
Jakarta – A governor (pictured above) from the island of Sumatra has been charged by Indonesia’s anti-corruption agency over allegations of bribery in connection to a land reclamation project.
The governor, Nurdin Basirun, is the latest to be apprehended in this high-profile case. He was arrested on July 10th at his home after transacting a bribe from various 3rd parties. Three other people have also been charged, including the head of the provincial marine and fisheries department, Edy Sofyan; the department’s head of capture fisheries, Budi Hartono; and Abu Bakar, a businessman alleged to have bribed Nurdin.
The bribe was linked to a permit which Nurdin issued for a 25 acre reclamation project from a protected forest. Basaria Panjaitan, deputy commissioner at Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK to locals) said, “Bribery has happened many times at the local level, and the KPK has found local officials taking bribes in exchange for issuing permits that benefit stakeholders with vested interests”.
This story points to the larger issue of corruption, especially in a conservation organisation. Although it does not directly affect turtle/tortoise species, the repercussions of these corrupt individuals’ actions could very well so!
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Photo from Riau Islands government.
