Policemen busted for illegal logging<\/p>\n
Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The National Police have arrested two police officers in Papua
\nfor allegedly facilitating illegal logging in the province and
\nfailing to come forward with evidence.<\/p>\n
A spokesman for the National Police, Sr. Comr. Zainuri Lubis,
\nsaid on Monday the two officers, identified as Comr. Hariyanto
\nand Adj. Comr. Sumadi, had been under police custody since March
\n31.<\/p>\n
"They are facing double charges for being accomplices to a
\ncrime and protecting illegal loggers, according to article 55 of
\nthe Criminal Code and Forestry Law No. 41\/1999, article 363,"
\nZainuri said.<\/p>\n
Papua Police are now trying to retrieve the evidence, mostly
\nin the form of thousands of cubic meters of timber and
\nheavyweight equipment, which Zainuri said had been sold by the
\nsuspects.<\/p>\n
Apart from the two officers, the Papua Police are
\ninvestigating four middle-ranking officers for allegedly taking
\nbribes from several financial backers in exchange for their
\nassistance in the illegal logging activities.<\/p>\n
The officers have been identified by their initials as Sr.
\nComr. STM, Sr. Comr. SLM, Comr. MR and Adj. Sr. Comr. ED.<\/p>\n
Zainuri said the four officers remain at large as they are
\nstill under investigation and currently the police are working
\nwith the Financial Transaction and Report Analysis Center (PPATK)
\nto track their bank accounts.<\/p>\n
Following President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's declaration of
\na war on illegal logging, the National Police initiated a massive
\noperation, focusing on Papua.<\/p>\n
The London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and
\nthe Indonesian environmental group, Telapak, have said the
\nillegal logging operation was allegedly supported and managed by
\nhigh-ranking Indonesian Military (TNI) officers in cahoots with
\nother government officials and law enforcers, such as the police.<\/p>\n
Data from a TNI source also revealed the amount of bribes
\nreceived by TNI and police officers for backing up the illegal
\nlogging activities.<\/p>\n
A local police chief might receive around Rp 400 million
\n(US$44,000 to $50,000) for "coordinating" with the financial
\nbackers of illegal logging, while subordinates earn a relatively
\nsmaller amount ranging from Rp 10 million to Rp 50 million.<\/p>\n
A local Navy commander might receive less than a police chief,
\nranging from Rp 200 million to Rp 250 million.<\/p>\n
Government officials from the customs and excise department,
\ntransportation ministry and forestry ministry usually receive Rp
\n50 million to Rp 100 million each.<\/p>\n
The data also reveals that the bribes paid to the police,
\nmilitary officers and government officials are small compared to
\nthe amount of money they make selling the timber overseas.<\/p>\n
For example, a financial backer who allocated Rp 63,75 billion
\nfor bribes would reap around Rp 344,25 billion from selling the
\nillegal timber.<\/p>\n
Police have so far seized 64,516 logs -- which is equivalent
\nto 340,334 cubic meters of timber -- and 19,374 cubic meters of
\nprocessed timber, 788 units of heavyweight equipment, four ships,
\n34 cars and trucks, 11 barges and 10 tugboats.<\/p>\n
At least 27 people have been arrested, including nine
\nMalaysian nationals and one South Korean citizen since the
\ncrackdown started. Police have also named 103 suspects.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/policemen-busted-for-illegal-logging-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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