Intan Setiawanty, Jakarta – The Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) of the National Police has revealed the modus operandi of suspects involved in forest and land fires across nine regions. Police found that most suspects intentionally set fire to the land to reduce the cost of clearing plantation areas.
The Director of Specific Criminal Acts at Bareskrim, Brigadier General Mohammad Irhamni, stated that burning was chosen by perpetrators because it is considered cheaper than using heavy equipment.
"The majority of the suspects used deliberate burning to make the operational costs of plantation activities cheaper or more economical," Irhamni said at a press conference at National Police Headquarters in South Jakarta on Sunday, August 23, 2026.
Police identified this pattern while handling forest and land fire cases in Riau, West Kalimantan, South Sumatra, Jambi, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, Aceh, and North Kalimantan.
According to Irhamni, investigators recovered several items that point to deliberate land burning. Police confiscated 35 lighters believed to have been used to ignite the fires. Investigators also found two plastic bottles containing diesel, two 10-liter jerry cans of diesel, two bottles of Pertalite fuel, and one bottle of kerosene.
"This is evidence that there was indeed an intentional act of burning, not due to natural causes from El Nino heat," Irhamni said.
In addition to ignition tools and fuel, police confiscated 21 machetes, two axes, one hoe, two chainsaws, and 39 charred wood logs. Investigators also secured five samples of burned soil, 13 used polybag plastics, six oil palm seedlings, and a pair of boots.
Irhamni stated that the evidence points to deliberate burning for land clearing purposes. According to him, perpetrators took advantage of the dry season to clear land with fire before using it for plantations once the rainy season starts. "The motive for the burning is certainly land clearing," Irhamni said.
Bareskrim recorded 89 police reports related to alleged forest and land fire crimes across the nine regions. Police have named 72 individual suspects. Irhamni stated that one case received an investigation termination letter (SP3), leaving 71 suspects whose legal proceedings are ongoing.
Police initiated the cases by monitoring hotspots, which officers at sector and resort levels verified on the ground. When burned land was found, officers first extinguished the fires and cooled the area before investigators conducted a crime scene examination.
Investigators then evaluated the crime scene to determine whether criminal acts had occurred. Upon confirming a criminal event, police escalated the case from initial inquiry to full investigation, questioned witnesses, seized evidence, and named suspects.
According to Irhamni, police are applying provisions under the Forestry Law, the Plantation Law, the Environmental Protection and Management Law, and the Criminal Code against the suspects.
Bareskrim also stated that the investigation will not be limited to field operators. Investigators will pursue those who ordered the fires or profited from the land clearing. "We will continue to pursue all perpetrators, those who ordered the act, and all parties who benefited from the crime of forest and land burning," Irhamni said.
Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2118207/police-suspects-burn-forests-to-reduce-land-clearing-cost