Riau prosecutors detain former forestry official

PEKANBARU: The Pekanbaru Prosecutor's Office has named a former Riau Forestry Office official who allegedly stole funds from the auction of confiscated timber, causing the state to incur billions of rupiah in losses.

The suspect, Kurnia Zein, former head of the forestry office's forest protection agency, was placed in Pekanbaru penitentiary at around 12:30 p.m. on Thursday under the escort of a number of prosecutors.

Kurnia tried to cover his face with a book while being escorted to a police van and refused to answer any questions.

Pekanbaru Prosecutor's Office chief Rudi Prabowo Adjie said prosecutors had decided to detain the suspect on the grounds that he would flee or destroy valuable evidence.

According to Rudi, Kurnia became a suspect after investigators heard testimonies from three former heads and a number of officials at the Riau Forestry Office.

Rudi said the Riau office of the Development Finance Comptroller (BPKP) found indications of graft in the form of misappropriation of Rp 1.57 billion (US$166,000) funds from the auction of timber seized during raids on illegal logging in 2006. - JP