Illegal Logging Rises Again, Situbondo Police Arrest 3 Perpetrators

SITUBONDO-Investigator of the Situbondo Police Satreskrim, East Java, detained three suspected illegal logging perpetrators who were arrested by joint officers from the Police and Polhutmob (Mobile Forest Police).

Head of Criminal Investigation Unit of the Situbondo Police, AKP Agung Hartawan, said that after the investigators examined the three suspected perpetrators of illegal logging, they were immediately detained.

"Three suspects, each with the initials DW (39), SM (59) and AR (36) residents of Sumber Tengah Village, Bungatan District, we detained them," Agung said, quoted by ANTARA, Monday, September 22.

According to Agung, the case was revealed when joint police officers and Perhutani officers were on patrol and suspected a pickup truck carrying wood, and after being examined there were 58 pieces of processed teak without documents.

The pickup vehicle carrying teak wood, he said, was secured by joint officers on Friday (19/8) at around 15:00 WIB on Jalan Raya Pasir Putih Situbondo, plot 38 B, Kampung Kembangsambi, Pasir Putih Village, Bungatan District.

The results of the examination of the three suspects, said Agung, were that dozens of teak logs that had been cut to 58 pieces were the result of illegal logging or illegal logging in forest areas belonging to Perhutani in Bungatan District.

"We also secured other evidence, such as a pickup, three teak logs in the form of squares, two saws and one cellphone," said AKP Agung.

To investigators, he said, the perpetrators cut down teak wood from state-owned forests without a permit to be transported using a pickup, the plan was to sell it to the market.

To account for his actions, three suspects were charged with Article 12 letter b in conjunction with Article 82 paragraph (1) letter b and Article 12 letter e in conjunction with Article 83 paragraph (1) letter b of Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 18 of 2013 concerning Prevention and Eradication of Forest Destruction, as amended by Law Number 6 of 2023 concerning Job Creation, in conjunction with Article 55 of the Criminal Code.

"The threat of punishment for illegal logging perpetrators can reach five years in prison and a fine of billions of rupiah. In this case, investigators are still investigating," said AKP Agung.