Indonesian police chief inspects biggest illegal logging catch

Nurni Sulaiman, The Jakarta Post 29 Sep 09;

National Police chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri visited Paser regency in East Kalimantan on Tuesday to inspect a large batch of seized timber, proving the province is still rife with illegal logging.

During the crackdown, the East Kalimantan police confiscated over 16,000 logs of high-priced meranti, kruing, bengkirai and ulin woods in Paser and Penajam Paser Utara regencies, the biggest catch ever unveiled by the police in Kalimantan.

The officers arrested two suspects but are still hunting down two others. They also seized 12 excavators, 14 bulldozers and two dump trucks belonging to the suspects.

Police found the suspects failed to show the documentation required to fell the trees.

East Kalimantan police chief Insp. Mathius Salempang and Paser police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Hery Sasongko accompanied Bambang during the inspection.