Pitcher Plant Thief Strikes Twice at Bogor Botanical Gardens, Claims Plants Were for Personal Collection

Bogor Botanical Gardens management has stated that a man with the initials JE, who stole rare pitcher plants, had carried out the theft twice. The perpetrator was caught red-handed during his second attempt. Zainal Arifin, General Manager of PT Mitra Natura Raya, the management company for the gardens, said the suspect had been under surveillance by officers prior to his arrest. “The perpetrator was caught red-handed with evidence for the second theft after being secretly monitored by Bogor Botanical Gardens officers on Saturday, 6 June 2026,” Zainal said on Tuesday (9/6/2026). A man with the initials JE was previously caught stealing rare pitcher plants at the Bogor Botanical Gardens. The man, from Jakarta, was subsequently handed over to the police. Bogor Botanical Gardens Public Relations Officer, Desy Susilawati, explained that the theft of the conservation collection plants occurred on Saturday, 6 June 2026. The perpetrator’s actions were recorded by CCTV cameras at the location. “A theft of pitcher plants (Nepenthes) has occurred; these are part of the conservation collection in the Bogor Botanical Gardens area. Pitcher plants are rare and protected within the Bogor Botanical Gardens,” Desy said in a written statement on Monday (8/6). Desy stated that the suspect, JE, had been handed over to the police for further legal proceedings. “The suspected perpetrator, known as JE from Jakarta, has been detained and subsequently handed over to the authorities to be processed in accordance with applicable legal provisions,” she added. Police Seize Stolen Plants. Contacted separately, Central Bogor Police Chief Kompol Waluyo said the rare plants stolen included one specimen of Nepenthes clipeteata, one specimen of Nepenthes ventricoca hybrid, and one specimen of Treubiana maxima talagensis. Waluyo stated that the suspect confessed to stealing the rare plants for a collection at his home. Currently, a team from the Central Bogor Police and the Bogor City Police are visiting the suspect’s home to secure the stolen plants. “(The reason for stealing) was with the intention of collecting them at his house. Furthermore, Central Bogor Police investigators will visit the perpetrator’s home to secure the plants previously stolen from the residence,” Waluyo said.