238 arrested for timber theft

SURABAYA: A forest raid, code-named "Brush Operation", has resulted in the arrest of 238 people in Jombang and Nganjuk who are suspected of stealing 600 cubic meters of teakwood from surrounding forests.

"We expect that court hearings will be held soon to try all the suspects, some of which are members of the Armed Forces (ABRI)," Marsanto, a provincial government official in charge of security, agrarian and public affairs, said yesterday.

According to Antara, the market price of illegal timber ranges between Rp 200,000 (US$85) and Rp 300,000 a meter cubic.

He said 850 mobile brigade officers took part in the raid in areas prone to illegal teak wood logging, including Nganjuk, Jombang and Madiun.

Marsanto said the operation would be extended to cover other areas in East Java such as Bojonegoro and Padangan.

"More preventive measures will be taken to deter teakwood theft," he said.

Nganjuk regent Soetrisno said that while he supported the efforts to eliminate teakwood theft, he criticized a recent police move to confiscate a local official's chair which they suspected of being made from stolen wood. (14)