Indonesian Police Yet to Target Corporations in Sumatra, Kalimantan Forest Fire Cases

Indonesian police have yet to target corporations as perpetrators in the forest and land fires (Karhutla) occurring in Sumatra and Kalimantan. As of September 3, 2026, a total of 112 individuals have been named suspects during the period of January 1 to September 3, 2026. Kombes Pipit Subiyanto, Head of Sub-Directorate III of the Directorate of Specific Crimes at Bareskrim Polri, stated that the hundreds of individuals involved in the fires were acting on a personal level, often on their own land, which then spread to other areas. "The 112 suspects are individuals, who committed the burning, where the individuals dominantly owned HM (Hak Milik) land, their own property," he said during a press conference in Jakarta on Friday (4/9). Subiyanto further added that the police would take firm action against corporations involved in forest fires if supporting evidence is found. "If there is related information or incidents (of fires) involving corporations, we will seriously follow up and, as per the leadership's orders, take firm action as we have reported," he said. Previously, police had named a total of 112 individual suspects in forest and land fire cases (Karhutla) throughout 2026. Subiyanto mentioned that these individuals were processed within the period of January 1 to September 3, 2026. "From January 1 to September 3, the law enforcement data (Gakkum) for Karhutla shows a total of 167 police reports (LP)," he stated. Of these reports, 55 are still in the investigation phase, and 77 reports have been escalated to the penyidikan stage. Eighteen cases have been declared complete, and nine reports have been handed over to the prosecutor's office. One report in South Sumatra Regional Police has been discontinued. Regional police involvement includes: Riau Regional Police naming 42 suspects, West Kalimantan Regional Police 7, Jambi Regional Police 8, South Sumatra Regional Police 20, Central Kalimantan Regional Police 20, South Kalimantan Regional Police 2, and East Kalimantan Regional Police 13. The areas under investigation for Karhutla span 2,112.25 hectares in Riau, 1,692.9 hectares in West Kalimantan, 27.82 hectares in Aceh, 11.75 hectares in Jambi, 40.25 hectares in South Sumatra, 123.7 hectares in Central Kalimantan, 4.63 hectares in South Kalimantan, 87.79 hectares in East Kalimantan, and 637.4 hectares in Lampung. Subiyanto explained that the majority of perpetrators intentionally set fires to open land quickly. "They carry out burning, either directly, or unintentionally due to the fires they use, or other reasons, with one of the motives being land opening," he said. Source: CNN Indonesia