Jakarta. Investigators from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) questioned Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning Minister Nusron Wahid on Wednesday as a witness in a corruption investigation implicating several of his aides and a major property developer.

It was Nusron's first appearance before KPK investigators since the anti-graft agency arrested several individuals on Sept. 14 in connection with alleged bribery involving land-use permits in Bogor Regency, West Java.

The KPK had summoned Nusron twice last month, but he failed to appear on both occasions, citing official duties and overseas travel.

After approximately five hours of questioning, Nusron emerged from the KPK headquarters shortly before 3 p.m. but declined to discuss the substance of the investigation.

Instead, he defended his previous absences, insisting that his official travel commitments were legitimate.

"I am a minister, so whenever I travel on official business, particularly overseas, there must be a travel authorization issued by the State Secretariat Ministry. I'm not making things up," Nusron told reporters.

He then left the building without answering further questions. Three aides blocked reporters attempting to approach him as he made his way to his vehicle.

KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo said Nusron had not been scheduled for questioning that day but had appeared voluntarily in response to the agency's earlier summonses.

"That's correct. Mr. NW appeared today in response to previous summonses. In fact, no questioning had been scheduled for today," Budi said.

The KPK has named eight suspects in the case, including two agrarian affairs officials, a Golkar Party politician, four individuals described by investigators as Nusron's trusted associates, and the chief executive officer of property developer Summarecon Agung.

During coordinated arrest operations in several cities, investigators also seized cash in various currencies totaling the equivalent of Rp 106.3 billion ($6 million).

The money is suspected to have been paid by property developers to agrarian affairs officials in exchange for facilitating land-use permits in Bogor Regency.

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