Police Name Regional State-Owned Enterprise Employee as Suspect in Bengkalis Forest Encroachment Case

Bengkalis Police have named a regional state-owned enterprise (BUMD) employee as a suspect in a forest encroachment case. The man, identified by the initials MS (49), was designated a suspect for criminal offences following a forest and land fire covering five hectares in Bukit Batu, Bengkalis.

Bengkalis Police Chief Senior Commissioner Fahrian Saleh Siregar explained that the suspect designation was made after investigators conducted a case review on Tuesday (17 February 2026), following a land fire incident covering approximately five hectares on Jalan Thomas, Dusun Mekar, Batang Duku Village, Bukit Batu Sub-district, Bengkalis Regency.

The incident began on Monday afternoon (9 February 2026), when fire was observed engulfing peatland in the area. The Community Fire Brigade (MPA), village officials and police immediately responded to the scene to carry out firefighting operations.

Based on crime scene processing conducted by the Special Crimes Unit of the Bengkalis Police Criminal Investigation Division and the Bukit Batu Police Criminal Investigation Unit, evidence was found pointing to illegal activity on the land. Officers discovered several piles of wood and cleared brush (known locally as perunan) on land belonging to suspect MS that were still emitting smoke when the fire occurred.

“Investigators found that suspect MS admitted to having carried out activities on the land for two consecutive days before the major fire broke out. Witnesses on the ground also observed smoke originating from the cleared brush piles on the suspect’s land,” the Bengkalis Police Chief stated in his official report.

In the case, police seized a number of items of evidence including a machete, samples of burnt soil, and charred oil palm fronds to strengthen the prosecution’s case at trial.

“Coordination with the Forest Area Consolidation Agency (BPKH) confirmed that the land managed by suspect MS holds the status of Conversion Production Forest (HPK),” he said.

For his actions, MS has been charged under multiple provisions, including Article 78 in conjunction with Article 50 of Law Number 41 of 1999 on Forestry, as amended by Law Number 6 of 2023 on Job Creation. The suspect also faces charges under Law Number 32 of 2009 on Environmental Protection and Management.

This firm action was taken as a law enforcement measure intended to serve as a deterrent, whilst also implementing the motto “Protecting Heritage, Guarding Dignity” in preserving forests in the Lancang Kuning region.

“Investigators are currently completing the case file, coordinating with the Public Prosecutor’s Office, and scheduling expert witness examinations to bring this case to trial,” he concluded.