More police officers arrested for illegal logging
More police officers arrested for illegal logging
Eva C. Komandjaja
The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
The National Police have arrested two police officers in Papua
for allegedly facilitating illegal logging in the province and
failing to come forward with evidence.
A spokesman for the National Police, Sr. Comr. Zainuri Lubis,
said on Monday the two officers, identified as Comr. Hariyanto
and Adj. Comr. Sumadi, had been under police custody since March
31.
"They are facing double charges for being accomplices to a
crime and protecting illegal loggers, according to article 55 of
the Criminal Code and Forestry Law No. 41/1999, article 363,"
Zainuri said.
Papua Police are now trying to retrieve the evidence, mostly
in the form of thousands of cubic meters of timber and
heavyweight equipment, which Zainuri said had been sold by the
suspects.
Apart from the two officers, the Papua Police are
investigating four middle-ranking officers for allegedly taking
bribes from several financial backers in exchange for their
assistance in the illegal logging activities.
The officers have been identified by their initials as Sr.
Comr. STM, Sr. Comr. SLM, Comr. MR and Adj. Sr. Comr. ED.
Zainuri said the four officers remain at large as they are
still under investigation and currently the police are working
with the Financial Transaction and Report Analysis Center (PPATK)
to track their bank accounts.
Following President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's declaration of
a war on illegal logging, the National Police initiated a massive
operation, focusing on Papua.
The London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and
the Indonesian environmental group, Telapak, have said the
illegal logging operation was allegedly supported and managed by
high-ranking Indonesian Military (TNI) officers in cahoots with
other government officials and law enforcers, such as the police.
Data from a TNI source also revealed the amount of bribes
received by TNI and police officers for backing up the illegal
logging activities.
A local police chief might receive around Rp 400 million
(US$44,000 to $50,000) for "coordinating" with the financial
backers of illegal logging, while subordinates earn a relatively
smaller amount ranging from Rp 10 million to Rp 50 million.
A local Navy commander might receive less than a police chief,
ranging from Rp 200 million to Rp 250 million.
Government officials from the customs and excise department,
transportation ministry and forestry ministry usually receive Rp
50 million to Rp 100 million each.
The data also reveals that the bribes paid to the police,
military officers and government officials are small compared to
the amount of money they make selling the timber overseas.
For example, a financial backer who allocated Rp 63,75 billion
for bribes would reap around Rp 344,25 billion from selling the
illegal timber.
Police have so far seized 64,516 logs -- which is equivalent
to 340,334 cubic meters of timber -- and 19,374 cubic meters of
processed timber, 788 units of heavyweight equipment, four ships,
34 cars and trucks, 11 barges and 10 tugboats.
At least 27 people have been arrested, including nine
Malaysian nationals and one South Korean citizen since the
crackdown started. Police have also named 103 suspects.