Kepri Police uncover forest encroachment case in Rempang conservation area

Batam, Riau Islands Police (Polda Kepri) have uncovered a case of suspected forest encroachment within the Rempang Hunting Park conservation area in Batam City. A man identified by the initials HA is accused of unlawfully occupying and exploiting land for agricultural activities. Public relations head Nona Pricilia Ohei says the case emerged after officers from the Riau BBKSDA discovered mango farming in the conservation forest during routine patrols. ‘In October 2025, BBKSDA officers conducted a four-day patrol known as Smart Patrol, from 20 to 24 October. The patrol found mango farming activities in the Rempang Hunting Park conservation area,’ she said in Batam on Friday. She added the land was allegedly utilised without rights by the suspect HA, who had controlled the area since 2012. Director of General Criminal Investigation at Polda Kepri, Kombes Silvester Simamora, said the suspect is suspected of using a modus operandi by impersonating the company PT Batam Balindo Jaya to control the land. ‘The perpetrator is Hanjaya alias Acai, acting as the director of PT Batam Balindo Jaya. We are currently handling a report from BKSDA regarding land control of about 303 hectares,’ Silvester said. Of the claimed land, around 7.9 hectares have been actively used as a mango orchard, while other areas lie in a protected forest and other designated use zones (APL). Silvester disclosed that the total land controlled by the suspect totals around 1,100 hectares, with 303 hectares in the Rempang Hunting Park area, around 70 hectares in the protected forest zone, and about 800 hectares in other use areas under the supervision of Batam’s Development Corporation (BP Batam). The charges cited are Article 78(2) in conjunction with Article 50(3)(a) of Law No. 41/1999 on Forestry, as amended by Article 36(19) in conjunction with Article 36(17)(2)(a) of Law No. 6/2023 on the Establishment of Government Regulation in lieu of Law No. 2/2022 on Job Creation. The penalties include up to 10 years’ imprisonment and fines up to Rp7.5 billion. The investigation has moved to the investigative stage, and the suspect has been detained since 27 February 2026 at the Kepri Police Detention Centre. Police also secured evidence including company documents, copies of the PT Batam Balindo Jaya establishment deed, and hundreds of land-occupation certificates. No official permits underpinning the land occupation were found, from BBKSDA or BP Batam. BBKSDA Riau’s Technical Division head, Ujang Holisudin, hopes the area can be restored to its conservation function. ‘This is a conservation area, so we hope to restore its function as a conservation area,’ he said. Rempang Hunting Park covers about 2,650 hectares on Rempang Island, designated for limited hunting tourism and wildlife protection.