15 Malaysians detained for illegal logging

15 Malaysians detained for illegal logging

Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura, Papua

Bintuni Police subprecinct recently arrested 15 Malaysian
nationals for illegal logging in Papua.

The 15 suspects were caught cutting down trees in a forest
concession area of Tohiba subdistrict, without the permission of
the Ministry of Forestry, a senior police official said on
Friday.

The suspects were Ting Chek Kheng, Fung Mai chi, Chabu Anak
Nyalu, Wong Jing Kong, Lau Ngee Kwei, Fong Chaw Ming, Sie Kee
Ming, Jingan Anak Ngaleh, Nyaring Anak Kana, Belitang Anak
Bayang, Lanang Anak Ujan, Ting Sik Huang, Ting Tiew Chuong,
Thomas Anak Labang and Kong Chin Fook.

Spokesman of the Papua Police, Sr. Comr. Daud Sihombing, said
in Jayapura that the suspects were arrested on Sunday after local
residents had tipped-off the police.

The 15 people were transported to Sorong and are now being
held at the police headquarters there. From Bintuni, the boat
trip to Sorong takes 20 hours.

The suspects were originally hired by logging company PT
Marindo Utama Jaya in Bintuni, to clear nearby forest in Wasiri,
Fartanai, Tohiba, East Bintuni and Korano Jaya subdistricts.

The police also confiscated more than 10,000 merbau (timber
trees) logs, three small boats and various kinds of logging
equipment, such as sawmills. "The heavy machinery was imported
from Malaysia," said Sihombing.

Police were still looking for the prime suspect in the case,
Wong Sie Khing, the president director of PT Marindo Utama Jaya.

Illegal logging is rampant in Indonesia's easternmost province
of Papua. The last Malaysian national arrested for illegal
logging in Papua was Lee Wah Kai, in December of last year.