Four Hectares of Forest and Land Burn in Bengkalis, Two Named as Suspects

The Riau Police’s Special Criminal Investigation Directorate (Ditreskrimsus) has named two suspects in a case of alleged forest and land fire (karhutla) within the Cultivation Rights Title (HGU) area of PT Teguh Karsa Wana Lestari (TKWL) in Bandar Jaya Village, Siak Kecil District, Bengkalis Regency. The fire, which occurred on Friday (7/8/2026), is estimated to have razed around four hectares of land. The two suspects, identified by the initials MK and DJ, are believed to be linked to land management activities prior to the fire.

Director of Special Criminal Investigation for Riau Police, Senior Commissioner Ade Kuncoro, stated that the fire was detected on Friday (7/8/2026) at approximately 1.30 p.m. local time. Investigators subsequently conducted a site inspection and investigation to uncover the cause of the fire. ‘As soon as we received information about the fire, the team immediately went down to check and investigate. From the series of examinations and the initial evidence we obtained, two people have been named as suspects,’ Ade said on Wednesday (12/8/2026).

During the on-site examination, investigators found oil palm plants managed by the community and a hut linked to one of the suspects. Police also obtained information regarding heavy machinery activity that was clearing undergrowth before the fire occurred. Ade stated that all these activities are still being investigated to reveal the sequence of events leading up to the fire. ‘We are investigating where the source of the fire came from, what caused it, how land management activities were conducted before the fire, who controlled and managed the land, as well as the possibility of motives or economic benefits from these activities,’ he said.

Investigators are also looking into initial information that the fire hotspot was in an area designated as having High Conservation Value (HCV). They have taken coordinate points to ascertain the position and extent of the burned area, which will subsequently be verified with experts and relevant agencies. Ade explained that the investigation is being conducted using a scientific investigation approach to examine the relationship between land management activities, the fire source, the blaze itself, and the resulting ecological impact. ‘We do not want to stop at who was at the location when the fire occurred. The investigation must be able to answer the cause-and-effect relationship based on facts and scientific evidence, including how it impacts the environment,’ he stressed.

Investigators will next conduct a crime scene investigation with experts and examine environmental, forestry, land fire specialists, and other relevant parties. ‘The status and function of the area will also be verified to determine the ecological value of the burned area,’ Ade said. In this case, the two suspects are charged under Article 98 of Law Number 32 of 2009 concerning Environmental Protection and Management and/or Article 107 of Law Number 39 of 2014 concerning Plantations. Investigators will also send a Notification of Commencement of Investigation (SPDP) to the Riau High Prosecutor’s Office.

Ade confirmed that the investigation will not stop with the naming of the two suspects. The Riau Police Ditreskrimsus is continuing to develop the case to identify other parties who may be connected to or responsible for the management of the area. ‘We will investigate all the facts. Whoever is later found, based on evidence, to be connected and can be held legally accountable, will certainly be processed in accordance with applicable regulations,’ Ade said. He added that law enforcement against forest and land fires is part of the Riau Police’s Green Policing implementation. The handling of environmental crimes is directed not only at taking action against perpetrators but also at protecting ecosystems and preventing recurring environmental damage. ‘Karhutla is not just a matter of fire and burned land. There is an ecosystem that must be protected, and there is a responsibility to ensure that the damage does not keep recurring. Therefore, law enforcement must go hand in hand with efforts to protect and restore the environment,’ he said.