Acacia tree robbers nabbed in Bogor

BOGOR (JP): Local police have arrested five wood cutters and three brokers who had been stealing and selling acacia trees from a forest concession site in the Citatah and Pematang areas of Barengkok village the in Jasinga subdistrict for the past three months.

State-owned forestry company (Perhutani) has suffered at least Rp 500 million in losses.

"We seized four trucks full of chopped wood as evidence," Bogor Police chief Lt. Col. Ade Husein said on Thursday.

The five men admitted to cutting down the trees. Each were paid Rp 1,000 per a two-meter-long log. "They usually operated from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.," Ade said.

The brokers said the 13-year old acacia timber was sold as material for furniture at Rp 250,000 per two meters of log with a diameter of 10 to 19 centimeters, while logs with bigger diameters could reach Rp 350,000 per two meters. (21/edt)