Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – The Jepara District Court's panel of judges declared the four shrimp farmers in Karimunjawa guilty of environmental pollution. This decision was announced alternately on Wednesday, October 30, 2024.
Tri Hutomo, the attorney monitoring the case from the Lingkar Juang community group, said the verdict was read by Meirina Dewi Setiawati, the chairman of the panel of judges.
The judge sentenced Sutrisno, the owner of CV Bimantara Vanname, to 1 year and 2 months in prison with a fine of Rp 30 million. It will be replaced by 3 months of imprisonment if unable to pay. The previous Public Prosecutor's Office (JPU) demand was for 4 years and a fine of 7 billion.
Sugianto Limanto, the owner of PT Indo Bahari, was sentenced to 1 year and a fine of Rp 30 million. It will be replaced by 3 months of imprisonment if unable to pay. The previous JPU demand was for 3 years and a fine of Rp 6 billion.
Teguh Santoso was sentenced to 1 year and 10 months in prison and a fine of Rp 50 million or an additional 3 months of imprisonment. The JPU demand was for 6 years and a fine of Rp 7 billion.
Mirah Sanusi Dawiyah was sentenced to 1 year and a fine of Rp 30 million. It will be replaced by 3 months of imprisonment if unable to pay. The JPU demand was for 3 years and a fine of Rp 6 billion.
According to Tri, the Jepara District Court's decision was very different from the previous JPU demand, even less than two-thirds of the demand. "We hope the Public Prosecutor's Office will appeal," Tri said in a written statement on Wednesday, October 30, 2024.
Tri explained that this lenient verdict was due to the Panel of Judges only charging the defendants under the Conservation Law. According to Tri, one of the articles that could have been applied was the Environmental Law because the defendants were proven not to support the government in preserving the environment.
"This is a note that we will convey to internal oversight institutions, such as the Judicial Commission (KY) or other external institutions, to oversee the legal process," he said.
This conflict first arose in March when the Directorate General of Law Enforcement of Environmental and Forestry (KLHK) designated the four shrimp farmers as suspects in destroying the Karimunjawa National Park environment.
The forms of pollution and environmental damage referred to are seawater contamination in the Karimunjawa Park area due to waste management that does not comply with the regulations.
Tri stated that the shrimp ponds in Karimunjawa fall into the intensive pond category, where feed must be continuously provided to the pond as the main source of food. This causes the shrimp ponds to become fertile, accumulating shrimp waste and feed residues.
To maintain water quality, water is periodically changed through the bottom of the pond so that accumulated waste and feed residues are disposed of. However, the problem arises because shrimp farming activities are suspected of disposing of the waste without prior treatment, thus polluting the marine environment in the Karimunjawa area and damaging coral reefs.
"The installation of the inlet pipes violates Law No. 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Natural Resources and Their Ecosystems," Tri explained via messaging application on Saturday, September 14, 2024.
– Dede Leni Mardianti, Ahmad Faiz Ibnu Sani