Bareskrim transfers North Sumatra illegal logging suspects to Prosecutor's Office
The Directorate of Specific Crimes of the Indonesian National Police (Bareskrim Polri) has announced the transfer of suspects and evidence regarding alleged illegal logging, which resulted in floods in North Sumatra, to the Sibolga District Attorney’s Office.
“We have handed over the suspects and evidence to the public prosecutors at the Sibolga District Attorney’s Office,” stated Brigadier General Mohammad Irhamni, Director of Specific Crimes at Bareskrim Polri, in a statement in Jakarta on Thursday.
Irhamni noted that this second phase of the legal process, involving the transfer of suspects and evidence, took place in late August 2026.
The suspects transferred include the corporate entity PT TBS and two individuals: the Director of PT TBS, identified by the initials NC, and the Manager of PT TBS, identified by the initials FH.
Evidence handed over includes two excavators, one bulldozer, and various corporate documents.
The suspects are charged under Article 109 letter a, and/or Article 98, and/or Article 99 of Law Number 32 of 2009 concerning Environmental Protection and Management, as most recently amended by Article 21 of Law Number 6 of 2023 regarding the enactment of Government Regulation in Lieu of Law Number 2 of 2022 on Job Creation into Law.
The environmental violations occurred in the Batang Toru District, South Tapanuli, and the Sibabangun District, Central Tapanuli Regency.
Irhamni emphasised that the police remain committed to taking firm action against those committing environmental violations.
“In accordance with the directives of President Prabowo Subianto, we will take strict action against perpetrators of environmental violations that harm the community,” he said.
Previously, the Criminal Investigation Directorate of Bareskrim Polri initiated investigations into the North Sumatra floods at the crime scenes located in the Garoga river basin, South Tapanula, and the Anggoli River, Central Tapanuli. Identification of logs found at the scene indicated that the majority of the timber originated from PT TBS.