Officer linked to illegal logging

JAYAPURA, Papua: Papua Police have declared a detective a suspect in an illegal logging case, a day before he faces questioning.

Spokesman for the police team sent to crack down on illegal logging in the province, Sr. Comr. Saud Usman Nasution said the officer, identified only as Comr. MR, was connected to an illegal logging ring of which other members remained at large.

Saud said investigators would focus on the suspect's role in the syndicate during an interrogation on Tuesday.

The team has also arrested two Army officers, Col. RG and Capt. K, and two other police officers in connection with the same case.

There have been 31 people charged, including nine Malaysian nationals and a South Korean, for their involvement in illegal logging offenses since the government-led blitz on logging began in February. -- Antara