Pontianak (ANTARA) - A joint team handling forest and land fires has\ndiscovered suspected illegal encroachment in the Conversion Production\nForest area of Sungai Awan Kiri village, Ketapang Regency, West\nKalimantan.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring the operation, the team secured one Sumitomo S130 excavator\nalong with two individuals with the initials W and WN, who are suspected\nof involvement in the illegal clearing of the forest area,\u201d said\nDirector General of Forestry Law Enforcement Dwi Januanto Nugroho in\nPontianak on Monday.<\/p>\n
He explained that the joint team comprised the Forestry Law\nEnforcement Centre for the Kalimantan Region, the West Kalimantan\nEnvironment and Forestry Service, the Ketapang Selatan Forest Management\nUnit, Muara Pawan Police, and the Delta Pawan Military Post.<\/p>\n
The discovery of the activity began when officers were carrying out\nforest and land fire suppression in Sungai Awan Kiri village, which was\nreported to have been burning since mid-August 2026.<\/p>\n
While extinguishing and preventing the fires, officers found land\nclearing using heavy equipment within the Conversion Production Forest\narea.<\/p>\n
Based on preliminary examination, the activity is suspected to have\ncreated a ditch 2.5 metres wide and approximately 1,050 metres long, as\nwell as a road body six metres wide and roughly 1,050 metres long.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe two individuals secured along with the heavy equipment are\nundergoing questioning, while the party suspected of being the landowner\nis still being summoned to provide testimony,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Dwi Januanto Nugroho expressed regret that forest destruction\nactivity was found at a time when the joint team was grappling with the\nfires.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are seriously committed to taking firm action against all\nperpetrators of environmental and forestry crimes, whether individuals,\nfinanciers, or corporations involved,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Head of the Kalimantan Region Forestry Law Enforcement Centre\nLeonardo Gultom said the case came to light thanks to the joint team\u2019s\npreparedness while monitoring the development of forest and land fires\nin the Ketapang area.<\/p>\n
According to him, investigators are still probing the possible\ninvolvement of other parties, including financiers and landowners\nsuspected of being connected to the forest clearing activity.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the suspected offence, the perpetrators may be charged under\nforestry legislation, with a maximum penalty of 10 years\u2019 imprisonment\nand fines of up to Rp7.5 billion,\u201d he said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/forest-fire-team-uncovers-illegal-encroachment-in-ketapang-1788785611", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }