Indonesian police have named nine suspects in forest and land fire cases involving corporations, while 223 individuals have been named suspects in separate cases as authorities intensify enforcement against illegal burning.
PALMOILMAGAZINE, JAKARTA — Indonesian police have named nine suspects in forest and land fire (karhutla) cases involving corporations, as authorities step up enforcement against fires that threaten forests, plantations and surrounding communities.
As of Oct. 13, 2026, the National Police Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim Polri), together with provincial police units, was handling 98 reports involving corporate-linked forest and land fires. Nine people had been named suspects in those cases.
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The figures were presented by Police Commissioner Pipit Subiyanto, head of Subdirectorate III at Bareskrim Polri’s Directorate of Certain Crimes, during a briefing at the Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs in Central Jakarta on Oct. 14.
“There are nine suspects in total,” Pipit told reporters, according to an official statement released Saturday (Oct. 17).
The investigation involves 10 provincial police departments, or Polda, along with the Directorate of Certain Crimes at Bareskrim Polri.
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West Kalimantan recorded the largest number of corporate-related fire reports, with 33 cases. South Sumatra followed with 17 reports, Central Kalimantan with 14, South Kalimantan with 11 and East Kalimantan with seven.
Riau recorded six reports, while Lampung and North Kalimantan each recorded three. Jambi recorded two reports, while Bangka Belitung Islands Police and Bareskrim Polri each handled one report.
West Kalimantan Accounts for Most Corporate Suspects
Of the nine suspects named in corporate-related forest and land fire cases, seven are from West Kalimantan. The remaining two suspects are from Central Kalimantan and South Kalimantan, respectively.
The distribution highlights the continued focus of law enforcement agencies on fire incidents in provinces with extensive plantation activities and forest areas. However, the designation of suspects remains part of an ongoing legal process, with cases subject to further investigation and judicial proceedings under applicable laws.
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Police are also pursuing cases involving individuals. As of Oct. 13, authorities had received 273 police reports related to forest and land fires involving individual perpetrators and had named 223 suspects across 12 provincial police jurisdictions.
Pipit said investigations remain underway in several regions. The National Police will continue to pursue those responsible for setting forest and land fires under applicable criminal laws, with the aim of strengthening deterrence and preventing repeat incidents.
Forest and Land Burning Can Carry 12-Year Prison Term
Pipit said perpetrators of forest and land fires could face prison sentences of between 10 and 12 years, depending on the legal provisions applied to each case.
He also urged the public not to use fire to clear land. Although burning is sometimes viewed as a cheap and convenient land-clearing method, it can quickly trigger uncontrolled fires, particularly when weather and environmental conditions favor the spread of flames.
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For the plantation sector, the latest enforcement measures underscore the importance of implementing no-burn land preparation and management practices. Stronger prevention, monitoring and fire-response preparedness are essential to reduce environmental damage as well as the social and economic costs associated with forest and land fires.
The police said action against both individual perpetrators and corporations is expected to strengthen legal compliance and encourage more consistent prevention of forest and land fires across Indonesia. (P2)
