Police Arrest Suspect Responsible for Days-Long Forest and Land Fire in Pelalawan

Pelalawan Police have uncovered a case of forest and land fires (karhutla) that occurred for several days in Teluk Meranti Subdistrict, Pelalawan Regency. The male suspect, identified by the initials ES, has been designated as the prime suspect. Pelalawan Police Chief AKBP John Louis Letedara explained that the revelation began when police detected hotspots via the Dashboard Lancang Kuning application at the end of February 2026 in Dusun III, Gambut Mutiara Village. “Upon receiving information about the hotspots, the Satreskrim team from Pelalawan Police immediately went to the location and conducted an investigation. From the results of the on-site probe and witness statements, we succeeded in securing one suspect,” John told reporters on Sunday (5/4/2026). From the investigation, the suspect intentionally cleared land by burning it for plantation purposes. The method used involved gathering branches, grass, and oil palm fronds, then burning them gradually from January to March 2026. “Initially, the suspect denied his actions, but after in-depth examination supported by witness testimonies and physical evidence at the scene, he finally admitted to repeatedly burning the land,” he explained. The suspect initially burned his own land. The fire spread to 500 hectares of peatland. “The area of burnt land is estimated to reach approximately 500 hectares. This is a serious concern due to its widespread impact on both the environment and public health,” the Police Chief stressed. In uncovering this case, police also seized evidence consisting of one machete and oil palm fronds used in the burning activities. The Police Chief emphasised that land burning is a serious crime that not only violates the law but also damages the ecosystem and threatens community life. “The criminal act of karhutla is a crime against the environment and humanity. We will not tolerate anyone who deliberately clears land by burning,” he asserted. For his actions, the suspect is charged under Article 56 Paragraph (1) in conjunction with Article 108 of Law No. 39 of 2014 on Plantations as amended by Law No. 6 of 2023 on Job Creation, as well as Article 98 of Law No. 32 of 2009 on Environmental Protection and Management. The Police Chief also urged the entire community, especially in karhutla-prone areas, not to clear land by burning. “We remind the public never to clear land by burning. Besides being dangerous and environmentally damaging, it also carries strict legal consequences,” he said. Currently, the investigation process is ongoing, completing administrative matters and coordinating with experts to strengthen the evidence.