The 31 farmers and one civil servant have been named suspects as they had conducted land-clearing activities using fires, which is a practice that has been banned by the government.Pekanbaru, Riau (ANTARA News) - The Riau provincial police have named 32 suspects in forest and plantation fire cases, and 21 of them have been handed over to the attorneys office.
The police have also investigated a plantation company in a similar case, spokesman of the Riau police Adjunct Senior Commissioner Guntur Aryo Tejo stated here on Wednesday.
Of the 32 suspects, who are mostly farmers, seven were detained in Pelalawan; three in Bengkalis; five in Indragiri Hulu; two each in Kampar and Dumai; one in Meranti; and four each in Indragiri Hilir, Rokan Hilir, and Siak.
The 31 farmers and one civil servant have been named suspects as they had conducted land-clearing activities using fires, which is a practice that has been banned by the government.
Regarding the company being investigated, the police are currently questioning 13 witnesses.
"We will continue the investigation and question some witnesses working in the company as well as involve some experts. We will complete the investigation and find out whether the company is involved," he noted.
Last Tuesday, the Siak police arrested Sa (46) and Az (45) for conducting illegal logging activities in a protected forest area under the concessionary management of PT Arara Abadi in Sungai Siak sub-district.
The police officers were investigating hotspots when they found the two illegal loggers using a chainsaw in the operation.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2015
