Illegal Land Clearing in Wajo Forest Area: Perpetrators Face 10-Year Prison Sentence
Indonesia’s Law Enforcement Agency for Forestry (Balai Gakkum) within the Ministry of Forestry, operating under the Sulawesi Regional Office, has suspended illegal encroachment activities in a production forest area in Wajo Regency, South Sulawesi. The enforcement action was conducted through a joint operation with the Awota District Forest Management Unit (UPTD KPH), which discovered land clearing covering approximately 9 hectares in Daraga Hamlet, Passelloreng Village, Gilireng District.
Ali Bahri, Head of the Sulawesi Regional Forestry Law Enforcement Agency, emphasised that this action represents the state’s commitment to ending illegal forest encroachment practices that damage national forest management governance.
“This law enforcement action represents the state’s commitment to protecting forest areas from illegal encroachment practices. It is a step to ensure that forest areas maintain their function as a support system for life. Any form of forest area utilisation must have proper authorisation and legal basis,” Bahri stated in an official statement on Saturday (28 February).
He also reminded the public not to conduct activities within forest areas without legal documentation, warning of serious legal consequences and potential long-term environmental damage.
The operation commenced following a report from the Awota Forest Management Unit regarding suspicious activity in the field. During the operation, officers apprehended two heavy equipment operators, identified as A and SY, who were operating two excavators to conduct land clearing. At the same location, officers also secured a man identified as S, who served as the field supervisor.
Based on observations at the site, the area of land cleared is estimated to reach approximately 9 hectares. The land was reportedly intended for plantation activities without documentation establishing legal authority for forest area utilisation.
Following investigation and case review procedures, the man identified as S was formally designated as a suspect for allegedly coordinating and overseeing the land clearing activities.
The suspect has been charged under Article 78 paragraph (3) read together with Article 50 paragraph (2) letter a of Law Number 41 of 1999 on Forestry as amended by Law Number 6 of 2023 establishing the Government Regulation in Lieu of Law on Job Creation as formal legislation. For these actions, the suspect faces a maximum prison sentence of 10 years and a maximum fine of Rp5 billion.
Ristianto Pribadi, Head of the Public Relations and International Cooperation Bureau of the Ministry of Forestry, stated that law enforcement will continue to be carried out to protect the function of forest areas as life support systems.