Forestry Gakkum Names Two Suspects for Illegal Road Opening in South Barisan Mountain National Park 

DOK Ministry of Social Affairs

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Forestry has named two people as suspects in the case of alleged illegal road opening using heavy equipment in the Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (TNBBS), West Lampung.

The two are suspected of illegally working, using, and/or occupying forest areas in the conservation area.

The determination of the suspect was carried out by the Forestry Law Enforcement Agency for the Sumatra Region, the Directorate General of Forestry Law Enforcement (Ditjen Gakkum Kehutanan), after receiving the transfer of handling the case from the TNBBS Headquarters.

This legal step is said to be part of the commitment of the Minister of Forestry, Raja Juli Antoni, in strengthening the protection of conservation areas through law enforcement against forest encroachment.

The government insists that national parks must continue to function as wildlife habitats, water management buffers, carbon sinks, and support for ecosystem sustainability.

The two suspects, each with the initials S (64) as the owner of heavy equipment and TN (26) as the excavator operator. The determination of the suspects was made after investigators conducted an examination and title of the case together with the PPNS Supervision Coordinator of the Lampung Police, the TNBBS Headquarters, and the Directorate General of Forestry Gakkum investigators.

Director General of Forestry Law Enforcement Dwi Januanto Nugroho said that illegal access to national parks was a serious threat to the sustainability of conservation areas.

"Roads that are opened illegally in conservation areas not only change the landscape, but also have the potential to become an entry point for encroachment, illegal logging, hunting of animals, and various other forestry crimes. Therefore, any attempt to open access illegally must be stopped early to prevent wider damage," said Januanto in Jakarta, Thursday, July 30.

According to him, law enforcement must be an instrument to maintain the integrity of conservation areas while improving forest governance.

This case began with the Forest Security Operation carried out by the TNBBS Headquarters. During the operation, officers found road construction activities using one hydraulic excavator unit within the national park area.

The officers stopped the activity, secured two people, and seized one heavy equipment which is now evidence in the investigation process.

Head of the Forestry Law Enforcement Agency for the Sumatra Region, Hari Novianto, emphasized that the investigation would not stop at determining the perpetrators in the field.

"The use of heavy equipment in the national park area shows that there is a planned action and has the potential to cause wider damage. We do not stop at securing the perpetrators and evidence. The investigation is directed at uncovering the purpose of opening the road, the party who ordered it, the party who financed it, and all parties who benefited from the activity. Everyone involved will be held accountable according to the evidence," said Hari.

S and TN are suspected of violating Article 50 paragraph (3) letter a in conjunction with Article 78 paragraph (2) of Law Number 41 of 1999 concerning Forestry as amended by Law Number 6 of 2023 concerning Job Creation, in conjunction with Article 20 letter c of the Criminal Code, as well as provisions in Law Number 1 of 2026 concerning Criminal Adjustment.

Both are threatened with a maximum prison sentence of 10 years and/or a maximum fine of Rp2 billion.