Dozens of Trees Felled in Protected Forest in Central Sulawesi Within Three Days; Two Illegal Loggers Arrested
Makassar, VIVA - Two individuals have been named as suspects in an alleged illegal logging case in the Mangolo Nature Tourism Park area, Kolaka Regency, Southeast Sulawesi (Central Sulawesi). This follows the discovery by officers from the Forestry Law Enforcement Unit of the Sulawesi Region, Ministry of Forestry, that dozens of trees had been felled in the conservation area.
“The perpetrators are identified as ES and AA. Based on investigators’ findings, both suspects allegedly carried out illegal logging of approximately 23 trees over a period of about three days,” said Head of the Forestry Law Enforcement Unit (Gakkum) for the Sulawesi Region, Ali Bahri, on Sunday, May 17, 2026.
They also confiscated evidence in the form of dozens of processed ulin wood logs, two machetes, and two chainsaws allegedly used for illegal logging activities in the conservation area. The arrests began with a routine patrol by officers from the Sulawesi Tenggara Natural Resources Conservation Agency on Thursday, April 30, 2026, around the Mangolo Nature Tourism Park area. At that time, a pile of wood was found near the Sakuli Dam.
Suspecting the origin of the wood, officers traced it back to the forest and heard the sound of chainsaws coming from within the conservation area. Officers then arrested ES while he was allegedly carrying out illegal logging activities. As ES was being taken out of the location, officers again heard the sound of a chainsaw coming from another direction within the area. After investigation, officers found AA who was about to leave the location.
AA admitted that the pile of wood found earlier was the result of his logging. Both suspects were then taken to the Kendari Post Office Section I Makassar, Sulawesi Region Forestry Law Enforcement Unit, to undergo further legal proceedings.
According to Ali, ES claimed that the wood was used for renovating his house. Meanwhile, AA stated that the proceeds from the sale of the logged wood were intended for sale. Both suspects are suspected of violating Article 40B Paragraph (1) letter e in conjunction with Article 33 Paragraph (2) letter e of Law Number 32 of 2024 concerning Amendments to Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Natural Resources and Ecosystems.
They face a maximum prison sentence of 15 years and a fine of IDR 5 billion. “The Sulawesi Forestry Law Enforcement Unit has seriously processed this case and strengthened synergy with the Sulawesi Tenggara Natural Resources Conservation Agency and related agencies so that violations in conservation areas can be quickly detected, quickly stopped, and do not recur,” he said.