KLHK Sends A Team To Investigate Pollution On Batam Beach

Police officers cleaned up waste polluting the coast in Kampung Melayu, Batu Besar Village, Nongsa District, Batam City, Riau Islands Province, Thursday (4/5/2023). (ANTARA PHOTO/Teguh Prihatta/foc)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) has dispatched a team to investigate pollution in the coastal area in Kampung Melayu, Batam City, Riau Islands.

Director General of Environmental and Forestry Law Enforcement of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Rasio Ridho Sani, said the team was trying to find out the source of beach polluters.

"The law enforcement team has also taken samples of suspected oil waste in affected locations," he said, quoted by ANTARA, Monday, May 8.

The coastal water in Kampung Melayu, Batu Besar Village, Nongsa District, Batam City, on May 3, 2023 was partially blackened, allegedly due to oil waste contamination.

Officers are trying to lift pollutants that pollute the coastal area. At least about four tons of waste has been removed from the beach.

According to the provisions, people who deliberately commit acts that damage the environment are threatened with a minimum imprisonment of three years and a maximum of 10 years with a fine of at least Rp. 3 billion and a maximum of Rp. 10 billion.

If acts that damage the environment result in injury or danger to human health, the perpetrators will face a minimum imprisonment of four years and a maximum of 12 years with a fine of at least Rp. 4 billion and a maximum of Rp. 12 billion.

If the act that damages the environment results in serious injury or death, the perpetrator will face a minimum imprisonment of five years and a maximum of 15 years with a fine of at least Rp. 5 billion and a maximum of Rp. 15 billion.

Business entities that are proven to damage the environment can be subject to additional punishment or disciplinary action in the form of confiscation of profits obtained from criminal acts, closure of all or parts of business premises, improvement due to action, obligation to do what is carried out without rights, and determination of companies under a maximum pardon of three years.

"This is a criminal threat for perpetrators based on Law Number 32 of 2009 concerning environmental protection and management. In addition, it can be subject to additional criminal environmental recovery," said Rasio.

"The perpetrator can also be sued for civil compensation," he said.