Kotim Police Find No Evidence of Coordinated Arson Patterns

Sampit (ANTARA) - The Kotawaringin Timur (Kotim) Police in Central Kalimantan have now identified a total of seven suspects related to alleged forest and land fire (karhutla) crimes.

Kotim Police Chief AKBP I Kadek Dwi Yoga Sidhimantra stated in Sampit on Friday that the authorities have not yet found any indications that these seven cases are part of a coordinated burning pattern organised by specific parties.

“We are handling seven police reports involving seven suspects. The modus operandi is that the perpetrators clear their own land by burning it, which then impacts neighbouring land or plantations, causing the fire to spread,” he said.

Of the seven suspects identified, five have been detained, while two other cases are still under investigation.

“At this time, based on the cases we are handling, all involve private land. We have not yet found any evidence of a coordinated pattern or other elements,” he emphasised.

Kadek revealed that Kotim Police investigators and their subordinates are also investigating 19 other alleged forest and land fire cases. Meanwhile, cases involving corporations are being handled directly by the Central Kalimantan Regional Police (Polda Kalteng).

In handling these seven cases, the police are applying Article 308 paragraph (1) and Article 311 of Law Number 1 of 2023 regarding the Criminal Code (KUHP). These provisions regulate criminal penalties for acts that result in fire, explosions, or floods that endanger public safety for people or property.

“Kotim Police continue to work alongside local police sectors, including deepening investigations into every report to ensure the cause of the fires and the responsible parties are identified. This is especially important given the high ongoing threat of forest and land fires in Kotim at present,” Kadek added.