Indonesia: Two foreign companies named suspects in forest fires: Police chief

Antara 12 Oct 15;

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesias National Police (Polri) Chief, General Badrodin Haiti, has said the police have named two foreign companies as suspects in forest and land fires.

"One of the two foreign companies comes from Malaysia, the other one being from China," Haiti told a press conference here on Monday.

He said his office would conduct intensive investigation into the activities of the two foreign companies.

The Polri chief said the police were also investigating possible involvement of a Singaporean firm in forest and land fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan.

"We are still examining the involvement of the Singaporean company. I could not yet ascertain its involvement," the Police chief said.

Haiti said his side had not yet coordinated with the authorities of the countries of origin of the two companies named as suspects.

"We have not involved foreign police in this case because it took place in Indonesia," Haiti said.

He also revealed that a total of 12 companies have been named as suspects in forest and land fire cases in Sumatra and Kalimantan (Borneo) region.

"Until today, October 12, 2015, 12 corporates have been identified as suspects," he stated.

Of the total cases involving these suspected companies, four had reached phase one, pending research by the public prosecutor.

According to Haiti, Polri had received 244 reports of crimes related to burning of forest and land areas.

He noted that all the reports were received from the provincial police (Polda) of six regions of South Sumatra, Jambi, and Riau as well as Central, West, and South Kalimantan, all places affected by forest and land fires.

Speaking with regards to the 244 reports, he explained that 26 of them were being investigated, while 218 of them have entered the investigation phase.

He further explained that of the total 218 investigations, 113 were related to individuals and 48 involved companies.

"Moreover, 57 corporations are already in the P21 (completed case files) stage, being looked after the prosecutor," he added.

Badrodin pointed out that all the suspects had violated Article 108, Number 32 of the 2009 Act, in which anyone found guilty faces 3-10 years of imprisonment and a fine of at least Rp3 billion and a maximum of Rp10 billion.(*)

Companies named suspects in forest fire cases: Indonesia Police Chief
Antara 12 Oct 15;

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - A total of 12 companies have been named suspects in forest and land fire cases in Sumatra and Kalimantan (Borneo) region, stated Chief of the Indonesian National Police (Polri) Badrodin Haiti.

"Until today, October 12, 2015, 12 corporates have been identified as suspects," he stated at a press conference here, Monday.

Of the total cases involving these suspected companies, four cases had reached phase one, pending research from the public prosecutor.

According to Haiti, Polri had received 244 reports of crimes related to burning of forest and land areas.

He noted that all the reports were received from the provincial police (Polda) of six regions of South Sumatra, Jambi, and Riau as well as Central, West, and South Kalimantan that were affected by forest and land fires.

Speaking in connection with the 244 reports, he explained that 26 of them were being investigated, while 218 of them were entering the investigation phase.

He further explained that of the total 218 investigations, 113 were related to individuals and 48 involved companies.

"Moreover, 57 corporations are already in the P21 (completed case files) stage by the prosecutor," he added.

Badrodin pointed out that all the suspects has violated Article 108, Number 32 of the 2009 Act, where the guilty will face 3-10 years imprisonment and a fine of at least Rp3 billion and a maximum of Rp10 billion.

Moreover, teams from a foreign country had begun operations to extinguish the fires in South Sumatra.

"Today, teams from Singapore and Malaysia along with South Sumatras Forest and Land Fires Prevention Task Force have commenced aerial and land operations to extinguish fires in Ogan Komering Ilir and Musi Banyuasin District," South Sumatra Governor Alex Noerdin stated here, Monday.

To overcome the smog disaster, the local government has since September 2015 deployed 4,997 personnel from the Provincial Agency for Disaster Management (BPBD), Manggala Agni, and the Indonesian Armed/Police Forces, among others.

(Reported by Agita Tarigan/Translated by Roy Rosa B./INE/KR-BSR/A014)