Riau Regional Police Name PT Musim Mas as Suspect, Environmental Damage Estimated at Rp187 Billion
The Riau Regional Police have named the palm oil giant PT Musim Mas (PT MM) as a suspect in an alleged environmental destruction case in Pelalawan Regency, Riau. The corporation is suspected of conducting oil palm plantation activities within the buffer zone of the Air Hitam River, a tributary of the Nilo River, specifically in the Ukui District, which should serve as a protected area and ecosystem buffer.
The Director of Special Criminal Investigation of the Riau Regional Police, Commissioner Ade Kuncoro, emphasised that naming PT MM as a suspect demonstrates the police’s seriousness in tackling environmental crimes, even when large corporations are involved. “Environmental law enforcement must not stop at individual perpetrators. Corporations can also be held criminally liable if their business activities are proven to cause environmental damage and provide economic benefits to the company,” Ade stated on Monday, 18 May 2026.
He noted that law enforcement approaches no longer target only field workers, but also corporations deemed to have gained economic benefits from environmentally destructive activities. Investigators discovered PT MM’s oil palm plantations within river buffer zones and forest areas in Estate IV Division F, Air Hitam Village, Ukui District, Pelalawan Regency. Investigators revealed that the area had been cleared and planted with oil palm between 1997 and 1998.
According to the investigation, the oil palm plants at the site began producing since 2002 and allegedly continued to generate economic profit for the company for over two decades. “The company is suspected of profiting from oil palm cultivation activities conducted within the river buffer zone. This was not a momentary activity, but one that has persisted over a long period,” he added.
Police assess that these activities contravene several regulations, including the company’s own Environmental Impact Assessment (AMDAL), Presidential Decree Number 32 of 1990 regarding the Management of Protected Areas, and Government Regulation Number 35 of 1991 regarding Rivers. Furthermore, PT MM is reported to lack the necessary permits for the use of river buffer zones as regulated by the Ministry of Public Works and Housing Regulation Number 28/PRT/M/2015. “The investigation findings indicate that PT MM does not possess a river buffer zone utilisation permit from the Sumatra III River Basin Authority,” said Ade.