Attorney General's Office Finds No Indications of Corruption in Forest Fire Cases So Far
The Attorney General’s Office (Kejagung) has stated that, to date, it has found no indications of corruption in the handling of forest and land fire (karhutla) cases involving a number of corporations. Nevertheless, in-depth legal examination continues to be carried out intensively.
Attorney General ST Burhanuddin affirmed that his staff stand ready to take firm legal action should preliminary evidence of corporate involvement in corrupt practices in the forestry and environmental sectors emerge as the cases develop.
“Not yet; as of now there has been none. But I have also ordered that if there are elements of corruption there, they must be followed up immediately,” Burhanuddin asserted at a joint press conference in Jakarta on Monday (7/9).
Burhanuddin explained that the handling of the karhutla scandal is currently being carried out in a coordinated manner across ministries and agencies, involving the Ministry of Forestry, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN), and law enforcement authorities.
The government is still awaiting the completion of administrative sanctions from the technical ministries against the offending companies before officially publishing the extent of the burned land area to the public.
“We will wait for the results of this to be completed; only then will we determine the areas and disclose them, whilst awaiting the completion of the sanctions imposed by the Ministry of Forestry, the Ministry of Environment, and Agrarian Affairs,” Burhanuddin explained.
On the same occasion, National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo revealed that the police have received at least 200 police reports related to karhutla cases across various regions of Indonesia. Of these, 138 individuals have been named as suspects.
In detail, 119 people were named suspects for deliberately setting fire to land, whilst 19 others were designated suspects due to negligence. Beyond individual suspects, the National Police are investigating the involvement of eight corporations.
“A number of companies that have already received administrative sanctions from the relevant ministries will also be examined to determine the possibility of criminal elements,” Sigit said.
Sigit emphasised that law enforcement against karhutla perpetrators will be applied firmly using layered articles, referring to the laws on forest areas, plantations, and environmental protection and management (Ant/P-4).