Expert Witness: The Wood That Was Installed Was Not A Prohibited Patok

The Atmosphere Of The Ninth Session Of The Land Patok Dispute Case On Wednesday (15/10) afternoon At The Central Jakarta District Court (Ron)

JAKARTA - An Expert Witness in the Forestry sector who was present at the trial of the ninth case of petok land dispute involving two PT Wana Kencana Mineral (PT WKM) workers, Anton Cahyo Nugroho, explained the criteria for stakes that were prohibited in forestry regulations.

Anton said the main requirement for the definition of stakes that are not allowed in forestry areas is those that use the initials of the company.

"It is not allowed to install stakes in forest areas if the Minister of Forestry does not allow it. The marker in question is a boundary marker in the form of a baton stake, a wooden stake or paralon stock with the initials," said Anton during the trial which took place at the Central Jakarta District Court, Wednesday, October 15.

The Expert Witness who works at the Manado Forest Area Development Center also stated that the wooden stakes installed by two PT WKM workers: Marsel Bialembang and calmab Hafidz are not included in the banned stakes category. After seeing the stock photo on the screen displayed in the trial, Anton admitted that the stakes are unlike the benchmark criteria that are prohibited from being installed in forest areas.

"According to knowledge (after seeing the photo), this (wood stock) is not a benchmark that is prohibited in forest areas," he said.

This expert witness statement finally provided clearer information regarding the land stocking crime case that dragged two PT WKM workers. The reason is, the main case of this criminal report stems from the actions of PT WKM workers who installed wood stakes to prevent unauthorized activities on land owned by PT WKM.