Jakarta. Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning Minister Nusron Wahid made his first public appearance Thursday since the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) arrested several people it suspects are his trusted associates in a widening corruption investigation involving his ministry.

Nusron attended a meeting with lawmakers at the House of Representatives but offered little comment when surrounded by reporters asking about the investigation.

“Regarding that matter, we respect the legal process being carried out by the KPK,” Nusron said.

He declined to answer further questions about the case as reporters continued to follow him.

“I'm trying to go home. This isn't the way to do it. Please, I have a right to some privacy while walking. Can you let me walk?” he told reporters.

Nusron also confirmed that he had stepped down from the central executive board of the Golkar Party.

He said he had discussed his plan to resign from the party leadership with Golkar Chairman Bahlil Lahadalia since last year, but declined to elaborate on his reasons.

“For anything further, it would be better to ask Mr. Bahlil as the chairman. We discussed this issue a long time ago,” Nusron said.

Nusron previously served as Golkar's chairman for religious affairs. His departure from the party's central leadership became publicly known around the time of the KPK investigation, although he said the decision had been discussed long before the case emerged.

Eight Suspects Named
On Sept. 15, KPK named eight suspects following a sting operation in Greater Jakarta over alleged bribery involving the processing of building-use rights, or HGB, for property developer Summarecon Agung in Bogor Regency.

Four of the suspects -- former Kebumen Regent Arif Sugiyanto, Golkar politician Fahd El Fouz Arafiq, Erwin and Muhammad Fakhry -- are suspected by KPK of being trusted associates of Nusron.

KPK has said that the characterization was based on information and electronic evidence gathered by investigators.

The four other suspects are Summarecon Agung President Director Adrianto Pitojo Adhi; Bogor Regency Land Office Head Sontang Coin Manurung; Land and Spatial Control and Enforcement Director General Lampri; and businessman Rizal Pahlevi.

KPK seized cash and other evidence worth approximately Rp 106.3 billion ($6 million) during the investigation. The money, consisting of rupiah and several foreign currencies, was recovered from multiple locations.

Investigators are tracing the origins and intended use of the money. KPK has also expanded its investigation beyond the Summarecon transaction to examine suspected payments connected with other land services and personnel matters at the ministry.

The anti-graft agency is investigating what it has described as a possible “shadow structure” involving individuals outside the ministry's formal organization who allegedly had access to the processing of land-related matters.

KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo previously said investigators had identified people who were not ministry employees but appeared to have access to land administration processes.

“We see what appears to be two organizational structures at the Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning Ministry: there is the official organizational structure, and there is also what looks like a shadow structure,” Budi said.

Investigators suspect that some of Nusron's alleged associates acted as intermediaries in collecting payments connected with land services and other matters within the ministry.

KPK has not named Nusron as a suspect or accused him of participating in the alleged bribery scheme.

Investigators have said they could summon the minister for questioning if his testimony is considered necessary as the investigation develops.

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