Police act against illegal logging

JAKARTA: Police are stepping up their efforts to fight widespread illegal logging in Indonesian forests, the national police chief told the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

Gen. Da'i Bachtiar told the House the latest raids took place in December last year and involved a number of foreign citizens.

Police apprehended a ship sailing under the Mongolian flag, which was carrying thousands of logs in the waters close to Sorong, Papua, Da'i said.

Police arrested MV Bravery Falcon skipper Ngo Fan Toan and 33 crew.

The ship was carrying 17,000 cubic meters of logs and was unable to show the necessary documents, he said.

The ship was docked at the Tanjung Priok seaport and the case was being investigated by the forestry ministry.

The perpetrators face charges of violating forestry and immigration laws. The maximum penalty is 15 years in prison or a Rp 5 billion (US$595,000) fine. -- JP