The Origin of the Trillions in Cash Displayed by the Forest Area Enforcement Task Force

The Forest Area Enforcement Task Force (Satgas PKH) has explained the source of the trillions of rupiah in cash displayed during a recent handover ceremony. The funds originate from the collection of administrative fines imposed on companies suspected of violating land management regulations.

“The source of these trillions of rupiah comes from the collection of administrative fines for the economic benefits enjoyed by legal subjects while exploiting land without permits and regulations,” stated the Satgas PKH in an official Instagram post on Wednesday.

The Task Force explained that these funds are deposited as non-tax state revenue (PNBP). They also emphasised that financial sanctions are not the only measure being taken; if indications of criminal activity are found, the Task Force will immediately refer the cases to law enforcement agencies.

Satgas PKH further clarified that their mission involves reclaiming state-owned land that has been managed illegally by corporations without a legal basis for decades. “Therefore, the enforcement of forest areas by the Satgas PKH is a transparent law enforcement action,” the group stated.

Recently, the Task Force has been highly active. They previously deposited administrative fine proceeds from Phase VI, amounting to Rp11.4 trillion, to the government on Friday, 10 April. Most recently, they handed over Rp10.27 trillion from forestry administrative fine collections during an event at the Attorney General’s Office, which was attended by President Prabowo.

The display featured stacks of Rp100,000 notes arranged on either side of the main stage, reaching approximately two metres in height. The total value handed over comprised Rp3.423 trillion in administrative fines and Rp6.846 trillion from Satgas PKH for Land and Building Tax (PBB) and Non-PBB. Additionally, the Task Force is set to return 2.3 million hectares of land that has been successfully reclaimed.