The Orangutan Trafficking Case With The Suspect Thomas Raider Delegated By Poldasu To The Prosecutor's Office

Head of Public Relations of the North Sumatra Police, Kombes Hadi Wahyudi. (ANTARA/HO)

MEDAN - Investigators from the Criminal Investigation Directorate of the North Sumatra Police (North Sumatra) have transferred the dossier of the first phase of the orangutan trafficking suspect to the North Sumatra High Prosecutor's Office (Kejati).

"Submission of case files LP/881/IV/2022/SPKT/Polda Sumut on April 28, 2022, on behalf of the suspect Thomas Raider to the North Sumatran Attorney General's Office," said Head of Public Relations of the North Sumatra Police Kombes Hadi Wahyudi, in a written statement quoted by Antara, Friday, 10 June.

Hadi said the orangutan trafficking practice involved a minor and a woman, so the arrests were based on community reports.

"Officers disguised themselves as buyers until the agreed location for the transaction was at the Cemara Asri Complex, Deli Serdang Regency," he said.

Kombes Hadi explained that the perpetrators traded the protected species of Sumatran Orangutan (Pongo abeli) for Rp. 23 million.

The North Sumatra Police team then met the perpetrators who were driving a Toyota Yaris car with license plate number BK 1665 RO, and were immediately arrested.

"The perpetrators consisted of five people, namely TRC (18), AR (20), HY (18) R, (17) and a woman A Br Sembiring (20), all of the suspects were residents of Binjai City, North Sumatra," he said.

Hadi said that from the disclosure, evidence was seized of an individual Sumatran Orang Utan alive, one Toyota Yaris BK 1665 RO, and five units of mobile phones of various brands.

"The suspect admitted that one individual Sumatran Orang Utan was obtained by the perpetrator from Nanta in Langsa District, East Aceh Regency," said the Head of Public Relations of the North Sumatra Police.