The Bandung City Government is investigating the case of the alleged\nfelling of ten shade trees on Jalan LLRE Martadinata, Bandung, West\nJava. The city administration is also tracing all business permits for\nthe padel operation suspected of being linked to the felling.<\/p>\n
Bandung Mayor Muhammad Farhan said the investigation conducted by the\nPublic Order Agency (Satpol PP) since 29 June 2026 has seen\ndevelopments. What began as a violation of a Regional Regulation (Perda)\nhas now escalated into a suspected criminal offence.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter nearly a month, an escalation occurred. It was initially a\nminor violation, but now it points towards a serious alleged offence.\nThat is why on 30 July I halted the minor criminal offence process and\nupgraded the handling,\u201d said Farhan on Monday (3\/8).<\/p>\n
According to him, preliminary findings show the suspected violations\nrelate not only to the Bandung City Regional Regulation but also\npotentially breach the Environmental Protection and Management Law. The\ninvestigation now involves Civil Servant Investigators (PPNS),\ninvestigators from the Environmental Law Enforcement (Gakkum) division\nof the Ministry of Environment, and is under the supervision of the\nBandung Metropolitan Police Criminal Investigation Unit.<\/p>\n
Farhan declined to name those suspected of involvement as the\ninvestigation is still ongoing. \u201cI cannot yet say who is involved\nbecause that would be too speculative. What is clear is that the legal\nprocess is under way,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Based on the initial reports received, if all criminal elements are\nproven, the alleged violations could carry a prison sentence of more\nthan three years and fines reaching billions of rupiah. Beyond the legal\naspect, the Bandung City Government is also examining the completeness\nof building and business permits behind the felling site.<\/p>\n
This step was taken because there is a strong suspicion that the tree\nfelling was connected to the operational interests of businesses in the\narea. \u201cThe documents we hold and the statements of several parties point\nto an allegation that the tree cutting was closely related to business\nactivities in that building,\u201d said Farhan.<\/p>\n
He explained that the Agency for Public Works, Construction\nDevelopment and Spatial Planning (Diciptabintar), together with the\nInvestment and One-Stop Integrated Services Agency (DPMPTSP) and related\nregional apparatus, are examining all permit documents. The review\ncovers business permits for the padel court, a cafe, and a videotron in\nthe area.<\/p>\n
\u201cJudging from the interim report, I assess that several permits are\nstill incomplete. Some are still being processed, and some have not been\nprocessed at all,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Farhan said that if administrative violations or breaches of other\nprovisions are found, the entire process will be followed up in\naccordance with applicable rules. Amid the ongoing legal process, the\nBandung City Government has also begun preparing the rehabilitation of\nthe felled area.<\/p>\n
According to Farhan, replacement trees will not be small seedlings\nbut sufficiently large trees so that the shading function of the area\ncan be restored quickly. \u201cThe felled trees were tanjung and mahogany\ntrees about five to ten metres tall. Therefore, the replacements must\nnot be seedlings but semi-mature trees,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
In the near future, the cleared area will be fitted with temporary\nbarriers so that rehabilitation can begin promptly. Farhan also revealed\nthat he has tasked the Regional Secretary and the Bandung City\nInspectorate to examine the possible involvement of civil servants (ASN)\nin the case.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf any civil servants are indeed involved, they will certainly face\nsanctions in accordance with the prevailing laws and regulations,\u201d he\nexplained. Farhan added that every business operator must not only\nsatisfy formal legal requirements but must also build good communication\nand relations with the surrounding community.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo not assume that because the administrative side is complete, the\nproblem is also resolved. Make a proper approach to the community. We\nwant business activities to run in harmony with the surrounding\nenvironment,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
On the same occasion, the head of Diciptabintar, Rulli Subhanuddin,\nprovided an update on handling residents\u2019 complaints regarding business\nactivities in the Surya Sumantri area. The agency summoned the operators\nand owners of the business in early June 2026 after receiving reports\nfrom the public.<\/p>\n
According to Rulli, residents raised two issues: the alleged use of a\ndrainage channel (branjang) and noise from business activities. \u201cThe\nexamination showed that the use of the branjang was not proven.\nNevertheless, the operator agreed to set the building back about one\nmetre so the channel remains open, and it has now been repaired,\u201d he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Regarding the noise, Rulli asked the operator to limit operating\nhours and to reach an agreement with local residents. He said the\nBandung City Government is also preparing stricter regulations on the\noperating hours of businesses located near residential areas.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bandung-city-government-investigates-tree-felling-permit-for-padel-arena-1785754254", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }