10 Trees Illegally Felled, Bandung Mayor Vows Criminal Prosecution for Perpetrators

The Mayor of Bandung, Muhammad Farhan, has stated that he will pursue legal action and criminalise the perpetrators responsible for the illegal felling of 10 trees in the Jalan LLRE Martadinata area, Bandung. This decisive action is being taken because the felling violates local regulations as well as the currently active moratorium on tree cutting.

The felling of these old trees occurred near a padel court. According to reports received, this illegal activity is suspected to have taken place in the early hours of approximately 1 or 2 July. Farhan expressed his outrage, noting that the action damages the city’s environmental balance.

“I am very angry about this. We will pursue criminal charges,” Farhan asserted in Bandung on Friday (31/7/2026).

Based on witness accounts at the scene, the perpetrators carried out their actions while wearing uniforms. This led local residents to remain unsuspecting, as they believed the individuals were official officers performing routine maintenance.

Farhan explained that this action violates two regulations simultaneously: the Bandung City Local Regulation (Perda) and the Tree Cutting Moratorium Circular Letter issued by the West Java Provincial Government. “Because there is a city regulation, and the provincial government has issued a moratorium circular. Therefore, this constitutes a violation of two regulations,” he added.

In addition to administrative sanctions, the Bandung City Government will report this environmental violation to the West Java Provincial Government and the Directorate General of Law Enforcement of the Ministry of Environment. Farhan revealed that the identities of the perpetrators have now been detected by the authorities.

“They have been detected. We will criminally prosecute those responsible,” Farhan concluded, ensuring that the legal process against the environmental vandals will proceed.