The Indonesian National Police Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim Polri) names 20 corporate suspects in Indonesia’s forest and land fires
Bareskrim Polri has named 20 corporations as criminal suspects in connection with sweeping forest and land fires that have ravaged nearly 29,168.78 hectares across Indonesia, detikNews reported. The enforcement action, announced by Kabareskrim Polri Komjen Asep Safrudin during a press conference in Pontianak, targets companies accused of intentionally burning land or operating with severe negligence that led to widespread environmental damage.
Foreign and Domestic Companies Facing Criminal Charges
The 20 corporate suspects comprise 16 domestic firms and four foreign-backed foreign investment companies (PMA) originating from Malaysia, Singapore, and South Korea, according to detikNews. CNN Indonesia detailed that the identified foreign entities include Singapore-backed PT HKI with 987 hectares of burned land, PT AI with 421 hectares, Malaysia-backed PT RKA with 2,157 hectares, and South Korea-backed PT API with 351 hectares.
The remaining domestic corporate suspects include PT BOS, PT AER, PT SKM, PT WLJ, PT SAE, PT BSLT, PT CGUK, PT FSL, PT BPK, PT PW, PT BWL, PT MIB, PT STP, PT JMS, PT RAS, and PT MASS, as outlined by detikNews and CNN Indonesia. In a broader enforcement sweep, Tribrata News reported that Bareskrim Polri has also initiated 104 police reports for corporate cases covering 29,168.78 hectares, alongside 287 separate reports for individuals involving 5,859.12 hectares and resulting in 245 individual suspects. Out of the 97 corporate reports that have advanced to the investigation stage, officials noted that 22 companies are foreign investment firms, including 8 from Malaysia, 9 from Singapore, 2 from the United Kingdom, 1 from China, 1 from Japan, and 1 from South Korea, alongside 75 domestic enterprises.
Legal Penalties and Business License Revocations
Investigators have built their cases on evidence gathered through scientific crime investigation methods, targeting practices that violate environmental laws and endanger public health. Tribrata News noted that beyond criminal prosecution, police investigators have recommended the revocation of business licenses for 23 corporations based on indicators such as repeated burning, ignition points originating directly inside concession boundaries, and inadequate firefighting infrastructure.
For the corporate entities facing trial, prosecutors intend to apply Articles 98 and 99 of Law Number 32 Year 2009 on Environmental Protection and Management, alongside Article 108. Convicted corporations face criminal penalties ranging from three to five years in prison and financial fines between Rp3 miliar and Rp15 miliar, as reported by detikNews and CNN Indonesia.
Ongoing Investigations and Parliamentary Oversight
Law enforcement officials emphasize that the list of accused companies remains fluid. detikNews reported that police expect the total number of corporate suspects to grow as ongoing investigative proceedings advance across affected regions.
Concurrently, the broader ecological fallout has drawn legislative scrutiny. Kompas reported that House of Representatives (DPR) member Bambang Haryo Soekartono called for accountability to extend beyond private enterprise, urging evaluations of the Ministry of Forestry and Perum Perhutani regarding forest maintenance and preventive measures during dry seasons. Bambang argued that accountability should also reference Law Number 41 Year 1999 on Forestry, which carries maximum penalties of 15 years in prison and a Rp5 billion fine for forest destruction caused by negligence or intentional acts, while suggesting that the ministry’s Rp6 trillion budget is sufficient to fund water bombing and weather modification operations modeled after practices in Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Karhutla Corporate Suspects
Which foreign countries are linked to the corporate suspects?
According to detikNews and CNN Indonesia, the four foreign investment companies (PMA) facing criminal charges originate from Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea.
What specific laws are the corporate suspects accused of violating?
detikNews and CNN Indonesia report that police are prosecuting the corporations under Articles 98, 99, and 108 of Law Number 32 Year 2009 concerning Environmental Protection and Management.
What total area of land has been affected by the corporate cases?
detikNews reported that police have processed 104 police reports involving corporate land fires spanning a total area of 29,168.78 hectares.