Attorney General's Office Finds No Indications of Corruption in Forest Fire Case Handling

Attorney General ST Burhanuddin has said that the Attorney General’s Office has not yet found any indications of criminal corruption in the forest and land fire cases, known as karhutla, currently being handled by the government.

“Not yet — up to this point there have been none,” said Burhanuddin when answering questions about the possibility of corrupt elements in company cases related to karhutla, at a press conference in Jakarta on Monday.

Nevertheless, Burhanuddin has ordered his staff to follow up should any elements of corruption be found during the karhutla handling process.

“However, I have also ordered that if there are any elements of criminal corruption there, they be followed up immediately,” he said.

The handling of karhutla cases is carried out in an integrated manner involving a number of ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Forestry, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency, as well as law enforcement authorities.

Burhanuddin said the government is still awaiting the process of imposing sanctions on companies before determining the next steps, including regarding the extent of the areas to be announced.

“We will wait for the results of this to be completed, then we will determine the areas and open them up whilst awaiting the completion of the sanctions imposed by the Ministry of Forestry, the Ministry of Environment, and also Agrarian Affairs,” he said.

Meanwhile, National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo said the police have received 200 reports related to karhutla and have named 138 suspects, comprising 119 suspects in cases of deliberate burning and 19 suspects on grounds of negligence.

The police are also handling eight corporations, which remain under further investigation.

According to Sigit, a number of companies that have already received administrative sanctions from the relevant ministries will also be examined for possible criminal elements.

Law enforcement against karhutla perpetrators, the Police Chief said, can make use of several overlapping laws, including provisions on forest areas, plantations, and environmental protection and management. (Ant)