Indonesia: Four people named suspects in C Kalimantan`s land fires

Antara 11 Sep 18;

Sampit, C Kalimantan (ANTARA News) - Police in East Kotawaringin district, Central Kalimantan, have named four suspects in land and forest fires in a number of areas in the district.

"We have been investigating six cases. Four people have been named suspects. The frequent rains (falling in the district) does not discourage us to investigate land fire cases," Chief of the East Kotawaringin District Police Adjunct Chief Commissioner Mohammad Rommel said here on Tuesday.

However, he stopped short of revealing the four suspects in land fires.

He said the police had investigated the cases of land fires in Ujung Pandaran, Samuda, Baamang and Mentawa Baru Ketapang.

One of the suspects has begun to stand trial. But the suspect is only accused of violating a regional regulation.

"He set fire to trash but the fire spread to empty land, which led to land fires. The other cases are still being investigated. May the suspect stand trial.

Only one of the four suspects has been detained. The suspect is believed to get involved in land fires in Samuda.

That other suspects have not been detained did mean that the investigation of their cases are stopped.

The police are also investigating the case of large land fires in Mentaya Hilir Selatan district, he said.

Romel said the police would not tolerate any land arsonist.

Land fires have a far-reaching impact on the people at large, he said.

He called on the public to help prevent and mitigate land and forest fires. *


Reporting by Norjani
Editing by Suharo
Editor: Andi Abdussalam