KLHK Names 4 Suspects For Burning Electronic Waste In Tangerang Causes Air Pollution

The Law Enforcement Investigation Team (Gakkum) of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) has named four suspects for burning illegal electronic waste which is one of the causes of environmental damage and air pollution in the Tangerang area, Banten.

"The four suspects are MA (39 years), HI (48 years), S (50 years), and MK (40 years). The four suspects are currently being held at the Salemba Class 1 detention center, Central Jakarta," said the Director General of Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Ratio Ridho Sani, as reported by ANTARA, Monday, August 21.

Rasio explained that the suspects MA, S, and MK, were investors. Meanwhile, HI acts as an electronic waste burner in Tegal Angus Village, Teluknaga District, Tangerang Regency, Banten.

"The suspect was charged with articles 98, 103, and 104 of Law number 32 of 2009 concerning Environmental Protection and Management jo. Article 55 of the Criminal Code, with a maximum imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum fine of Rp. 10 billion rupiah," continued Rasio.

The Ministry of Environment and Forestry has assigned six teams in eight locations of companies suspected of carrying out environmental pollution that are one of the causes of air pollution in Jakarta.

"Today we have assigned six teams, we will go to eight locations in Jakarta, then in Bogor, then Bekasi, also the border between Bekasi and Karawang," he said.

The ratio to explain the current focus of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry is to look at emission sources that have the potential to cause problems with air pollution in Jakarta.

"We continue to check and supervise locations that have Steam Power Plants (PLTU), there are several industries that also have their own generators, both the paper industry and the cement industry, we continue to do (checks)," he said.

"We also checked the location where the coal stock was located, because they opened it. This is if strong winds can also cause fine dust to escape into the air. In some locations we also checked Jakarta, as well as at locations where metal, metal, steel and so on, including we are also exploring several locations where the burning was carried out openly," he added.

The KLHK Gakkum Investigation Team can impose sanctions in the form of administrative, criminal, and civil, depending on the type of violation of environmental pollution committed by the company.

"Later we will see the implementation depending on the situation in the field, because even if subject to administrative sanctions it does not rule out the possibility of imposing a criminal act, one company could be subject to administrative sanctions, we will also criminalize it. We also collect data, we can handle several cases like that, later we will see the level of error, the level of their violation," he said.

The government is said to take firm action against all companies that carry out environmental pollution and intentionally carry out activities that affect public health, including the management of hazardous and toxic waste (B3) in Tangerang.

"We will take firm action against corporations and parties who pollute the environment, especially the air, especially those that disturb public health. We will use all instruments and authorities owned by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry," said Rasio.