Three people quizzed about forest contracts

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: West Nusa Tenggara police are questioning two civil servants and a businessman here over misuse of forest concession contracts.

Spokesman for West Nusa Tenggara police Adj. Sr. Comr. Basri said on Tuesday that the case began four years ago when the three were granted a forest concession in Empang Kampaja, on the island of Sumbawa, with each being granted 100 hectares of forest. However, as time went by, it was revealed that they had actually cut down over 540 hectares in total, far in excess of the total concession area of 300 hectares.

If found guilty, the three could face a maximum 10 year in prison, said Basri. The three people in question are Baijuri Bolkiah, chief of the security section at the province's forestry office, Tahir, a civil servant at the provincial agricultural office and Bagong, a local timber baron. -- JP