Forestry Ministry designates suspect in Bentang Alam Seblat forest encroachment case

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut) has designated a man identified by the initial S as a suspect in the case of forest encroachment for palm oil plantations in the Bentang Alam Seblat area in Mukomuko Regency, Bengkulu. In a statement confirmed from Jakarta on Monday, the Head of the Law Enforcement Unit (Gakkum) for the Sumatra Region of the Ministry of Forestry, Hari Novianto, stated that the suspect S is known to control and manage a palm oil plantation covering approximately 30 hectares within the Air Rami Production Forest Area in Mukomuko Regency and is currently detained at the Bengkulu Provincial Police Detention Centre. “In addition, this case will continue to be developed to uncover other parties involved, including those responsible for opening access roads within the forest area and the owners of heavy equipment used in the illegal activities. Every party proven to be involved will be held accountable in accordance with applicable laws and regulations,” said Hari. He explained that investigators have also seized evidence including one unit of heavy equipment, an excavator, one unit of a hut located within the Air Rami Production Forest Area, a palm oil plantation covering around 30 hectares, as well as several land purchase receipts with varying areas and transaction values. The designation of the suspect is the result of an investigation from the Merah Putih Operation activities in Bentang Alam Seblat, which on 16 November 2025 discovered land planted with palm oil approximately five years old. Based on field investigations, the land is known to belong to S. At the same location, the team also found one heavy equipment unit, an excavator, in an inoperative condition and camouflaged with palm oil fronds, suspected to avoid detection by officials. The heavy equipment is believed to have been used to open access roads that facilitate encroachment activities within the forest area. Investigators are still developing leads on other parties involved in the illegal activities. The suspect S faces a maximum prison sentence of 10 years and a fine of up to Rp7.5 billion due to his actions. The Director General of Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Forestry, Dwi Januanto Nugroho, in a similar statement, said that the Merah Putih Operation in Bentang Alam Seblat is a concrete effort in securing forest areas to maintain the sustainability of the Bentang Seblat forest area’s functions, which is a habitat for diverse wildlife. “The Ministry of Forestry, through its law enforcement apparatus, will continue to ensure that every violation in forest areas is processed according to the law, while strengthening prevention efforts through integrated supervision and cross-sectoral synergy,” he said.