Malaysian tycoon arrested on illegal logging charges<\/p>\n
Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura, Papua<\/p>\n
Police in Papua said on Friday they had arrested a Malaysian
\ntycoon for his alleged involvement in illegal logging in the
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
The suspect, identified as Hii Eii Sing, was arrested in
\nSorong regency earlier this week, Papua Police chief Insp. Gen.
\nBudi Utomo said. He did not give the exact date.<\/p>\n
He said the arrest was made after the police questioned at
\nleast nine other Malaysian people working for local timber firm
\nPT Rimba Kayu Artamas.<\/p>\n
The nine -- identified as Kong Siew Khiat, Wong Yew Ong, Tiong
\nHuo Kuok, Ling Hie Poh, Lee Yee Choo, Wong King Hung, Wong Liu
\nPiu, Lau Hieng Chong, Kong Siew Khiat and Chua Bum Huat -- were
\narrested in Merdey subdistrict in the regency of Manokwari on
\nJan. 5.<\/p>\n
The police said the detained Malaysian tycoon owned several
\nMalaysian companies and several hotels and malls in Australia.<\/p>\n
Budi was quoted by Antara as saying the police had also
\narrested a co-owner of PT Artamas, who was also a vice chairman
\nof the Indonesian Timber Business Association (Apkindo) for his
\nalleged role in log smuggling.<\/p>\n
He said Hii is currently being detained at National Police
\nHeadquarters, while the nine other Malaysian suspects are being
\nheld in Papua.<\/p>\n
Budi admitted that some Malaysian nationals had for the past
\nfew years been living on Papua's marine and forest resources,
\nboth illegally and legally.<\/p>\n
\"Foreigners have been siphoning off Papua's natural wealth,
\neven though many Papuans live in poverty,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The police would focus their investigations on foreigners
\nworking in the province, Budi added.<\/p>\n
Earlier this week, Minister of Forestry M. Prakosa criticized
\nthe involvement of Malaysians in illegal logging in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
He voiced the criticism when speaking before the House of
\nRepresentatives in Jakarta on Monday.<\/p>\n
\"When the Minister of Industry and Trade and I visited border
\nareas in Kalimantan (which borders Malaysia), we saw a lot of
\nheavy-duty equipment. We suspect this equipment belongs to
\nMalaysian citizens who are involved in illegal logging,\" the
\nminister was quoted as saying.<\/p>\n
Prakosa added that some time ago nine Malaysian citizens were
\narrested in Papua on account of illegal logging.<\/p>\n
Illegal logging has continued unchecked across Indonesia,
\nand an estimated 2.5 million hectares of forest have so far been
\nlost to the country.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/malaysian-tycoon-arrested-on-illegal-logging-charges-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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