Indonesian Police Name 72 Suspects in Forest Fire Cases Across Nine Regions

Indonesian police have named 72 suspects in forest and land fire cases across nine regions since February 2026, with one case dismissed and 71 actively under legal proceedings. Brigadier General Mohamad Irhamni, Director of Specific Crimes at the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim), reported that police are handling 89 cases nationwide.

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We have issued approximately 89 police reports distributed across nine Regional Police jurisdictions.

The affected regions include Riau, West Kalimantan, South Sumatra, Jambi, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, Aceh, and North Kalimantan. Bareskrim recorded a high number of hotspots in Riau (1,201) and West Kalimantan (2,282), with other regions also showing significant figures.

Investigators seized various items linked to land burning, such as lighters, fuel containers, tools like machetes and axes, and even oil palm seedlings. Preliminary findings suggest the fires were set for land clearing, with perpetrators cutting vegetation months in advance. Police suspect this method was chosen to reduce costs compared to using heavy machinery, as burning is considered the easiest way.

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Burning is the easiest way.

Most suspects are farmers or laborers clearing land for cultivation or oil palm plantations. However, Bareskrim is investigating whether they acted independently or were financed by other parties. To uncover potential corporate involvement, investigators will trace financial transactions and collaborate with the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK). Irhamni confirmed that no evidence of law enforcement involvement has been found yet.

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We do not rely on their statements alone; we will seek facts, transaction records, and other evidence to determine if there is involvement by other parties or corporations that ordered the land clearing.