Ministry of Environment Pursues Legal Action Against Two Steel Companies in Tangerang for Hazardous Waste Dumping

Environmental law enforcement must serve as a deterrent to offenders.

Jakarta (ANTARA) — The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MOEF) is proceeding with legal action against steel and iron manufacturers PT PSI and PT PSM, which are suspected of polluting the environment through the submission of suspects and evidence to the Tangerang District Prosecutor’s Office.

Frans Tjahjono, Director of Environmental Criminal Law Enforcement at the MOEF/Environmental Control Agency (BPLH), confirmed in a statement from Jakarta on Friday that a series of investigations and waste sample testing revealed suspected environmental crimes committed by both corporations, specifically the failure to manage hazardous and toxic waste (B3) they produced and/or the unauthorised dumping of waste into the environment.

“Based on the results of our investigation, strong evidence was found that both corporations are suspected of committing environmental crimes, and we have designated them as corporate suspects,” said Frans.

He explained that after the case file was declared complete (P-21) by the Attorney General’s Office of the Republic of Indonesia, the Deputy for Law Enforcement (Gakkum) division of the MOEF/BPLH subsequently submitted the suspects and evidence to the Tangerang District Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday (12 March) for further legal proceedings.

The evidence submitted included waste samples, documents related to business activities, dumping trucks, and heavy equipment including transport machinery allegedly used in activities related to the environmental crimes.

In the same statement, Rizal Irawan, Deputy for Environmental Law Enforcement at the MOEF/BPLH, stated that law enforcement against corporations that cause pollution and environmental destruction will continue to be carried out consistently.

“Environmental law enforcement must serve as a deterrent to offenders, particularly corporations that profit in ways that harm communities and the environment,” he said.

He assured that the MOEF/BPLH will continue to strengthen coordination with other law enforcement agencies to follow up on various cases of pollution and environmental damage currently being handled.