Jakarta, en.SERU.co.id – The National Police Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim Polri) has named 72 people as suspects in forest and land fire cases across several areas of Sumatra and Kalimantan. Investigators seized matches, fuel and oil palm seedlings that point to deliberate burning. Police believe the land was set alight to cut the cost of clearing ground and prepare it for oil palm plantations.
Brigadier General Moh. Irhamni, Director of Specific Crimes at Bareskrim Polri, said investigators recovered 35 boxes of matches believed to have been used to start the fires.
“This is clear evidence that the burning was intentional. It was not caused by natural factors or the effects of El Nino heat,” Irhamni said on Sunday (23 August 2026).
In addition to the matches, officers secured several containers of fuel. These included two plastic bottles of diesel, two 10-litre jerry cans also filled with diesel, two plastic bottles of Pertalite and one plastic bottle of kerosene.
According to Irhamni, the presence of the fuel strengthens the suspicion that the fires did not occur naturally. The items form part of the evidence used by investigators in naming the suspects.
“This is very clear. We have valid evidence and have professionally established the investigation process and named the suspects based on that evidence,” he said.
Investigators also found various tools linked to land-clearing activity. The seized items included 21 machetes, two axes, one hoe, two chainsaws, 39 pieces of burned wood, five plastic bags of burned soil samples, 13 used polybags, six oil palm seedlings and a pair of rubber boots.
“From the evidence seized by investigators, it is very clear that the motive for the burning was land clearing,” Irhamni said.
Burning to reduce land-clearing costs
Irhamni explained that the suspects are believed to have chosen fire as a cheaper way to clear vegetation. Burning allows the land to be cleaned and prepared at a lower operational cost.
“We suspect the burned land was being prepared for oil palm planting. The dry season makes it easy to start fires, and planting can then take place during the rainy season,” he said.
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72 suspects spread across several provinces
The cases are being handled by a number of regional police forces. Riau Provincial Police recorded the highest number of suspects, with 35 people named from 30 police reports.
Here is the breakdown of the cases:
- Riau Provincial Police: 30 reports, 35 suspects
- West Kalimantan Provincial Police: 18 reports from 2,282 hotspots
- South Sumatra Provincial Police: 15 reports from 618 hotspots, 17 suspects
- Jambi Provincial Police: 17 reports from 64 hotspots, 8 suspects
- Central Kalimantan Provincial Police: 8 reports from 203 hotspots, 11 suspects
- South Kalimantan Provincial Police: 3 reports from 318 hotspots, 2 suspects
- East Kalimantan Provincial Police: 2 reports from 243 hotspots, 1 suspect
- Aceh Provincial Police: 2 reports from 71 hotspots
- North Kalimantan Provincial Police: 2 reports from 12 hotspots
Police stressed that the suspects were named on the basis of field investigations and the evidence recovered. The matches, fuel, land-clearing tools and oil palm seedlings form key parts of the material now being used to examine allegations of deliberate land burning. (aan/mzm)
Indonesian Version:
Bareskrim Polri Tetapkan 72 Orang jadi Tersangka Karhutla dan Sita Korek Api hingga Bibit Sawit
