South Kalimantan Police name five suspects in forest and land fire cases

South Kalimantan Regional Police (Polda Kalsel), together with district police forces, have named five suspects allegedly involved in forest and land fire (karhutla) cases occurring in various parts of the province.

“The latest reports from the ranks show a total of five suspects in karhutla cases have now progressed to investigation,” said South Kalimantan Police Chief Inspector General Dr Rosyanto Yudha Hermawan to ANTARA in Banjarbaru on Friday.

He detailed that Hulu Sungai Selatan Police have two suspects, while Tanah Bumbu Police, Tabalong Police and Banjarbaru Police each have one suspect.

Yudha said the suspects are individuals who are reasonably believed to have deliberately set fire to land for specific purposes.

“It is suspected to be for land clearing by burning,” he explained.

Some cases even involve corporate entities whose land was also burned during the current dry season.

“All are still being investigated by investigators, and we are also seeking expert testimony so that the law enforcement process truly meets the minimum requirement of two pieces of evidence before naming someone a suspect,” he said.