Police Threaten 15 Years In Prison Perpetrators Of Forest And Land Fires In South Sumatra

Illustration. The East Kotim BPBD Task Force seeks to extinguish forest and land fires in Sungai Paring Village, Central Kalimantan, August 5, 2024. (ANTARA-HO-BPBD Kotim)

The South Sumatra Police Special Criminal Investigation (Reskrimsus) reminded anyone who was proven to have caused forest and land fires (karhutla) in the 2025 dry season to be imprisoned for up to 15 years and a fine of IDR 5 billion.

"The general public, farmers, company owners who are proven to have deliberately burned the land and caused forest and land fires to be processed according to legal provisions with the threat of imprisonment and fines," said Dirkrimsus Polda Sumsel, Kombes Pol Bagus Surapratomo Oktobrianto at a training event to deal with forest and land fires in Palembang, Wednesday, confiscated by Antara.

According to him, forest and land fires can cause environmental damage, air pollution, disruption of various activities and public health.

"Seeing the negative impact of the forest and land fires, to provide a deterrent effect on the perpetrators of the arson, it is necessary to enforce the law firmly indiscriminately," he said.

He explained that the crime for cases of forest and land fires is regulated in several laws and regulations, such as Law No. 18 of 2013 concerning Prevention and Eradication of Forest Destruction (UU P3H) and Law no. 32 of 2009 concerning Environmental Protection and Management (UU PPLH).

In the P3H Law, perpetrators of forest fires can be threatened with a maximum imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum fine of IDR 5 billion.

However, keep in mind that the punishment imposed on the perpetrators of forest and land fires may vary depending on the case and the circumstances that accompany it.

"In addition, in the PPLH Law, perpetrators of forest fires can also be threatened with imprisonment and large fines depending on the level of environmental damage caused," he explained.

In optimizing forest and land fire prevention measures and law enforcement, his party expects participation from all parties and levels of society by reporting to the nearest police officers if they find forest and land fires.

"With cooperation, support and public awareness, it is hoped that it can reduce the risk and impact of forest and land fires in the provinces that have 17 regencies and cities," said Kombes Pol Bagus Surapratomo.