JAKARTA, Indonesia: Indonesian police have named 113 suspects in connection with forest and land fires as authorities intensify enforcement amid the ongoing wildfire crisis.
According to the Indonesian National Police (POLRI), 169 police reports involving 4,741.89 hectares of burned land had been handled nationwide as of September 4.
Police Criminal Investigation Agency’s official, Kombes Pol Pipit Subiyanto, said most of the suspects identified so far were individuals accused of burning land they owned or controlled, including for land-clearing purposes.
“The suspects so far are predominantly individuals. They carried out burning on land around them or on their own land, including with the intention of clearing land,” he said
Riau recorded the highest number with 42 suspects, followed by South Sumatra and Central Kalimantan with 20 each, East Kalimantan with 13, Jambi with eight, West Kalimantan with seven and South Kalimantan with three.
Police said investigations remained ongoing and any evidence of corporate involvement would also be pursued under existing laws.
Between January 1 and September 4, Riau recorded the largest burned area under the cases investigated at 2,112.25 hectares, followed by West Kalimantan at 1,696.3 hectares and Lampung at 637.4 hectares.
POLRI’s public relations official, Brigjen Pol Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko, said enforcement was aimed at preventing further fires and deterring illegal burning, while urging the public to report suspected forest and land burning activities.
