Gakkum KLHK Hands Over Suspects For The Increase In Bukit Tigapuluh TN Forest

PEKANBARU - The Law Enforcement Team of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry handed over the suspect in the alleged forest acquisition case in Bukit Tigapuluh National Park with the suspect, the former Head of Keritang Village, Inderagiri Hilir Regency, Riau, N (52).

Head of the Balai Gakkum KLHK Sumatra Region, Subhan, said that currently the case file has been declared complete or P21 by the Riau Province High Prosecutor's Office. Therefore, the suspect and evidence will be submitted.

"In the near future, we will hand over the suspect and evidence in the form of an excavator unit and a work agreement letter to the Indragiri Hulu District Attorney for trial," Subhan said as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, May 14.

Previously, the suspect had been on the run for four months until he was successfully secured in Keritang Village, Kemuning District, Indragiri Hilir Regency. He was secured by a joint operation team of the KLHK Gakkum and the Riau Regional Police Special Criminal Investigation Directorate on February 22, 2024.

This case began when the Sumatra Ministry of Environment and Forestry's Balai Gakkum conducted an investigation following up on the results of routine patrols by the Bukit Tigapuluh National Park team on September 7, 2023. At that time, the team secured the excavator operator, HP (36), along with heavy excavator equipment at Talang Lalak Resort, Sungai Akar Village, Batang Gangsal District, Indragiri Hulu Regency, Riau.

From there, PPNS Gakkum KLHK conducted an investigation by examining five witnesses. "We found the fact that N (52) is an actor in additional activities," said Subhan.

After the arrest, the suspect was detained at the Riau Police Headquarters Detention Center. The threat of criminal punishment for the perpetrator is a maximum of 10 years and a maximum fine of Rp. 7.5 billion.

The perpetrator was charged with Article 78 Paragraph (2) jo. Article 50 Paragraph (3) letter a of Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 41 of 1999 concerning Forestry as amended by Paragraph 4 Article 36 number 19 paragraph 78 jo. number 17 Article 50 paragraph (2) letter a Law Number 6 of 2023 concerning Stipulation of Government Regulation in Lieu of the Republic of Indonesia Law Number 2 of 2022 concerning Job Creation into Law jo. Article 40 paragraph (2) jo. Article 33 Paragraph (3) Law No. 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Natural Resources and Their Ecosystems.