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.