Apriadi Gunawan, Medan – Regional police across Sumatra have been puzzled by the release of many illegal logging suspects by panels of judges during trial sessions in court, a high-ranking police officer said Thursday.
Head of the police security development agency Gen. Comr. Imam Haryatna said after opening a coordination meeting among regional police throughout Sumatra in Medan that the police were disappointed by the release of many suspects.
The police were not satisfied with any verdict to free the suspects, accused of involvement in illegal logging activities.
Haryatna himself said he did not understand why it was so easy for the judges to free the suspects in their verdicts, even though the police had done their utmost to compile documentation.
With regard to the judges' verdicts, Haryatna said that the police respected the courts' independence and never intervened in verdicts.
Despite the poor response, he said the police would continue working hard to hunt down the perpetrators of illegal logging.
"The police will continue doing their job. As long as there are reports of violations of existing regulations, the police will not hesitate to take action," Haryatna said.
North Sumatra Police chief Insp. Gen. Nurudin Usman said that the effort to uphold the law against illegal logging in North Sumatra would not stop even though three major illegal logging suspects had been cleared of all charges over the last five months.
Nurudin said that based on past experience the police would be careful and professional in compiling documents for trials.
"We've thus far been assisted by experts in compiling the legal documents. We strive to improve our professionalism so as to help prevent any suspect from being easily freed," he said.
He cited the compilation of documents in the case of well-connected businessman Adelin Lies, suspected of involvement with PT Inanta Timber and Keang Neam Development Indonesia in widespread illegal logging that is believed to have cost the state trillions of rupiah.
Nurudin said that even though the prosecutor's office had not submitted the documents on Adelin to the court, he feared Adelin would be easily cleared of all charges as well.
A number of Adelin's subordinates accused of being involved in the illegal logging activities in Mandailing Natal regency, North Sumatra, had already been freed by the panel of judges, he said.
Last week Forestry Minister MS Kaban said during a working visit to Medan that he would propose that the Supreme Court examine the judges.
Kaban said he could not accept the verdict to free the culprits because it would be impossible for the police and prosecutors to make any accusation without solid proof and evidence.