Polis Indonesia namakan 11 syarikat suspek kebakaran hutan

Indonesia's police chief, Suyudi Ario Set, revealed on Wednesday that 11 companies have been named as suspects in an ongoing investigation into forest and land fires, including three foreign investment firms, according to state news agency Antara. The chief declined to announce the names of the affected companies but said the investigation was proceeding without major hindrances.

He informed reporters that accountability would be addressed against the relevant corporate entities, including both company owners and shareholders responsible for firms linked to forest and land fires in Indonesia.

The investigation, which began with an initial statement from the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim), has resulted in 98 police reports being advanced to formal criminal proceedings. Apart from the police investigation, the Ministry of Forestry has also increased enforcement measures. Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni announced that permits for six more companies in Central Kalimantan have been suspended, reducing the total number of forestry firms allowed to 32, according to the report.

The six companies have had their Business Permit for Forest Use (PBPH) suspended, and they are now required to carry out environmental restoration in the affected areas. These six companies manage a total of 201,391 hectares, of which 7,531 hectares were affected by recent fires.

The forestry ministry's management measures now cover 32 companies managing over 1.9 million hectares of concessions, including 18,489 hectares that have been affected by fires. Raja Juli warned that individual criminal proceedings can be taken against these companies if investigations uncover evidence of misconduct or a deliberate intent to commit a crime.