Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Anis Firmansah, Jakarta – The Attorney General's Office (AGO) has opened the door to investigating whether extensive illegal logging contributed to the deadly floods and landslides that have devastated parts of Sumatra over the past week, as the death toll surged to 442.
The Forest Area Enforcement Task Force (Satgas PKH) – which includes the Attorney General's Office, the National Police, the military, and the Forestry Ministry – is examining whether the disaster, which struck North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh amid cyclone-driven torrential rain, was entirely natural or intensified by human activity, particularly large-scale deforestation.
"We will examine all information circulating in public," Attorney General's Office spokesman Anang Supriatna said in Jakarta on Monday. "This needs to be studied to determine whether the floods were caused by natural factors alone or if illegal logging played a role."
He added that law enforcement would move forward if investigators uncover deliberate actions that exacerbated environmental destruction. "If we find elements of intent, legal action will definitely follow," he said.
Illegal logging scheme uncovered in West Sumatra
The renewed scrutiny comes as the task force recently exposed what officials describe as a major illegal logging operation in West Sumatra. According to the task force, the scheme involved an organized system to "launder" illegal timber by falsifying documents to make the wood appear legally sourced.
One of the cases involves timber company Berkah Rimba Nusantara (BRN), operating in the Mentawai Islands. The investigation, which began in October, has named the company's 29-year-old president director – identified by the initials IM – as a suspect.
"We found the company misused timber administration systems, including document manipulation to ' launder' illegal timber into legal form," said Dwi Januanto Nugroho, Director General of Forest Law Enforcement and a Satgas PKH official, during a briefing in Gresik on Monday.
Dwi stressed that the practice amounted to a serious environmental crime with direct ecological consequences, including heightened risks of catastrophic flooding and landslides. The case, he added, will be expanded to include potential money-laundering charges against both the corporation and its owners.
Rudianto Saragih Napitu, Director of Forestry Crime, said the illegal logging network appeared to be systematic, using forged documents to disguise timber taken from protected or unlicensed areas.
Disaster impact worsens
The humanitarian toll from the disaster continues to rise. As of Sunday evening, local authorities reported:
- 442 deaths
- 646 injured
- 402 people missing
- 2,000 houses severely damaged
Rescue efforts remain hampered by blocked roads, damaged bridges, and ongoing unstable terrain. Officials warn that the number of casualties may climb further as more remote areas become accessible.
Beyond law enforcement, Satgas PKH is also tasked with reclaiming state-owned forest areas illegally controlled by private operators – spanning plantations to mining concessions. Once seized, the government plans to prioritize ecological restoration while ensuring that any economic activity adheres to environmental sustainability.
"One of our core functions is restoring damaged ecosystems," Anang said.
Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/indonesia-probes-illegal-logging-link-to-deadly-sumatra-flood