Riau Police Arrest Gordon, Owner Of Illegal Land In Bengkalis Conservation Forest Area

Conservation areas are used as plantation land or other activities without permission. (Ist)

The Directorate of Special Criminal Investigation (Ditreskrimsus) of the Riau Police has succeeded in uncovering cases of alleged criminal acts in the field of conservation of biological natural resources and their ecosystems in Bengkalis Regency.

The Director of Special Criminal Investigation (Direskrimsus) of the Riau Police, Kombes Ade Kuncoro, explained that in this case, his party managed to secure a suspect, namely Gloria Riahta Sinulingga alias Gordon (55), a resident of Pencing Bekulo Village, Kandis District, Siak Regency.

"The suspect was arrested for clearing plantation land without a permit in the forest area of natural conservation," said Kombes Ade to reporters, Friday, October 24.

Ade said that the disclosure of this case began with information received by the Sub-Directorate IV of the Tipidter Ditreskrimsus of the Riau Police from the Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) of Riau Province regarding heavy equipment activities in the forest area of Tasik Tebing Serai Village, Talang Muandau District, Bengkalis, on Monday, October 20.

The team led by IPTU Robiansyah together with BKSDA personnel immediately headed to the location and found two units of orange Hitachi 110 excavator heavy equipment that were cleaning the land.

"Officers then secured two heavy equipment operators, two helpers, and secured evidence in the form of two heavy equipment, one machete, and one meter," he said.

Based on the results of the examination, continued Ade, it was known that the owner of the 13 hectares of land was Gordon.

He is known to have rented two units of heavy equipment belonging to Lasikar Rico Sihotang at a cost of Rp. 9 million per hectare to clear land that is still a forest area and does not yet have a legal basis.

"The suspect was later arrested on Wednesday, October 22, at his home in Pencing Bekulo Village, Siak Regency, and taken to the Riau Police Headquarters for further investigation," said Direskrimsus.

Kombes Ade Kuncoro emphasized that this case is a strong warning to anyone who tries to penetrate forest areas illegally.

Conservation and conservation areas should not be used as plantation land or other activities without permission.

"This kind of violation not only damages the ecosystem, but also threatens the balance of the environment and efforts to prevent forest and land fires in Riau," said Ade.

He added that the Riau Police continued to strengthen collaboration with the BKSDA, Forestry Service, and local governments in law enforcement efforts as well as preventing the destruction of forest areas.

"This law enforcement is part of our commitment to keep Riau's natural resources sustainable. The approach we take is not only repressive, but also preventive through the Green Policing program," said Ade.

For his actions, the suspect was charged with multiple articles, namely Article 92 paragraph (1) letters a and b of Law Number 18 of 2013 concerning Prevention and Eradication of Forest Destruction, as well as Article 40 paragraph (1) letter e of Law Number 32 of 2024 concerning Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and Their Ecosystems.

The maximum penalty is 11 years in prison and a fine of up to IDR 5 billion.