Illegal logging suspect moved to Jakarta

Illegal logging suspect moved to Jakarta

Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A senior police officer, accused of involvement in illegal
logging activities in Papua province, will face further
questioning in Jakarta to prevent possible intervention by his
local bosses into the investigation.

Comr. Martin Renau, who was declared a suspect in matters
relating to illegal logging, was flown aboard a commercial
aircraft on Wednesday morning from Papua to Jakarta, National
Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said.

He said Martin would be interrogated by officers of the
internal affairs division at Da'i's office.

"We brought him here because we want to prevent any
intervention into the investigation, and so that the probe can
also be carried out more intensively," Da'i said when
inaugurating a new building for the National Narcotics Agency
(BNN).

He explained that Papua Police were already busy dealing with
other cases, so it would be easier if the Martin case was handled
by police investigators in Jakarta.

Martin, the Papua police chief of special crimes division, was
declared a suspect on April 14, two days after an intensive
investigation by a government-sponsored illegal logging task
force.

A source within National Police headquarters said Martin would
be investigated in Jakarta in the hope that he would cooperate in
efforts to unravel the illegal logging syndicate, which allegedly
involves high-ranking police and military officers as well as
other state officials.

Martin's transfer to Jakarta was also aimed at ensuring his
safety during the investigation, the source added.

So far, the police have only managed to arrest middle-ranking
officers during the anti-illegal logging operation in Papua,
including Comr. Hariyanto, Adj. Comr. Sumadi and Martin.