PALMOILMAGAZINE, KARO – The Criminal Investigation Unit of Mardingding Police has arrested a 35-year-old man, identified as MAP, a resident of Buluh Pancur Village, Lau Baleng Sub-district, Karo Regency, for allegedly stealing palm oil fruit bunches belonging to a local farmer.
The incident took place on Saturday (August 16, 2025) at around 7 p.m. in a plantation area behind Pakcin Rice Mill, Buluh Pancur Village. The victim, identified as 38-year-old farmer Antonius Haloho from Lau Kasumpat Village, Mardingding Sub-district, reported the theft after receiving information from a witness, Swadana Stevanus Karo-karo, who had caught the suspect red-handed.
“Mister Haloho went to a coffee shop in Buluh Pancur Village, where he confronted MAP. When questioned, the suspect admitted to the theft,” explained Mardingding Police Chief AKP A. Nainggolan, as Palmoilmagazine.com quoted from the National Police’s public relations office, Wednesday (August 20, 2025).
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Before being handed over to the police, the suspect was briefly taken to the village office. Upon investigation, MAP was found to have stolen 46 fresh fruit bunches (FFB) of palm oil, weighing a total of 1,040 kilograms. The estimated loss suffered by the victim amounted to Rp2.88 million. All evidence has since been secured by the authorities.
For his actions, MAP has been charged under Article 362 of the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP) and faces a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment.
Chief Nainggolan praised the villagers for turning in the suspect without resorting to vigilante justice. “We urge the public to always follow legal channels. This case demonstrates the importance of strong cooperation between the community and the police in maintaining security and order,” he stressed. (P2)
