Central Java Police Name Shrimp Farm Entrepreneur Suspect in Agricultural Land Conversion Case

The Directorate of Special Criminal Investigation (Ditreskrimsus) of the Central Java Regional Police (Polda Jateng) has named a shrimp farm entrepreneur with the initials AMP as a suspect in a case of alleged conversion of sustainable food agricultural land (LP2B) and spatial planning violations in Batang Regency. The suspect was announced during a press conference held at the Ditreskrimsus headquarters in Banyumanik, Semarang City, on Wednesday. Present at the event were Central Java Police Director of Special Criminal Investigation Senior Commissioner Djoko Julianto, Head of Public Relations Senior Commissioner Artanto, and Head of Infrastructure for the Central Java Provincial Agriculture Office Prasetyo Nugroho. Senior Commissioner Djoko Julianto explained that the case originated from a public report concerning shrimp farming activities in an agricultural area in Dukuh Roban Timur, Sengon Village, Subah District, Batang Regency. During a field inspection, officers discovered vannamei shrimp farming activities in brackish water in the middle of productive agricultural land. The farm covers an area of approximately 7 hectares and is equipped with supporting facilities such as a warehouse, office, and waterwheel installations. Investigations revealed that the land used for the farm was previously productive rice fields included in the Sustainable Food Agricultural Area (KP2B). Based on the examination of the suspect, the land was purchased and subsequently converted into a shrimp farming area. According to Djoko, the suspect did possess a business permit, but in its execution, the farm location allegedly shifted from the designated coordinate points, encroaching upon protected rice field areas. The affected area includes 6.88 hectares of LP2B and 0.34 hectares of Sustainable Food Agricultural Reserve Land (LCP2B). Investigators also presented satellite imagery documentation showing a significant change in land function. In 2020, the location was still a stretch of productive rice fields, whereas by 2025 it had been transformed into shrimp farm plots. The shrimp farming business is known to have been operating for approximately five years with an annual turnover reaching billions of rupiah. The vannamei shrimp harvest is marketed to meet local market demands. Central Java Police stated that the land conversion caused considerable environmental damage. Based on calculations carried out with relevant agencies, the cost required to restore the soil condition so it can function as agricultural land again is estimated at Rp32 billion. Meanwhile, Head of Infrastructure for the Central Java Provincial Agriculture Office Prasetyo Nugroho assessed that the practice of illegal agricultural land conversion could reduce the area of productive rice fields and impact regional food security. The reduction of agricultural land will affect food productivity and potentially disrupt efforts to achieve food self-sufficiency. For the purpose of the investigation, police seized evidence including two sacks of former shrimp feed, one farm waterwheel unit, one electric dynamo motor unit, and business permit documents in the suspect’s name. For his actions, AMP is charged under Article 72 paragraph (1) in conjunction with Article 44 paragraph (1) of Law Number 41 of 2009 concerning the Protection of Sustainable Food Agricultural Land, as well as Article 70 paragraph (1) in conjunction with Article 61 letter b of Law Number 26 of 2007 concerning Spatial Planning as amended by Law Number 6 of 2023 on Job Creation. The suspect faces a maximum prison sentence of five years and a maximum fine of Rp1 billion. Head of Public Relations for Central Java Police Senior Commissioner Artanto urged business actors to pay attention to spatial planning provisions and the protection of food land in carrying out their business activities. We remind all business actors to ensure their activities comply with zoning and statutory provisions. Central Java Police will take firm action against any land conversion violations that damage protected agricultural areas.