inp.polri.go.id - Pekanbaru. The Riau Regional Police and its ranks have named 40 suspects in 37 forest and land fire cases, involving a total of 904 hectares of burned land.
The Director of the Special Criminal Investigation Directorate of the Riau Regional Police, Senior Superintendent Ade Kuncoro Ridwan, stated that from the investigation into these cases, police have identified several methods suspected of causing the forest and land fires. Most of the cases point to allegations of deliberate land clearing by burning.
"We will handle every report and fire incident professionally through an investigation and inquiry process based on facts, evidence, and a scientific criminal investigation approach to objectively identify those responsible," he said in Pekanbaru on Friday (8/28/2026).
In the latest development, the Riau Regional Police have uncovered three forest and land fire cases. One of them, handled by the Rokan Hilir Police, concerns a fire in Raja Bejamu Village, Sinaboi District, which occurred on August 6, 2026, and has named MA (28) as a suspect.
Based on the accumulated cases handled, several regions recorded a significant number of cases. The Pelalawan Sub-regional Police handled seven cases with eight suspects.
The Indragiri Hilir Sub-regional Police also handled a similar number, with seven cases and seven suspects. Meanwhile, the Bengkalis Sub-regional Police also handled seven cases with eight suspects.
Furthermore, the Kampar Sub-regional Police handled four cases with three suspects. The Rokan Hilir and Indragiri Hilir Sub-regional Police each had three cases with suspects. Meanwhile, the Dumai, Siak, and Meranti Islands Police each handled one case with one suspect.
In addition to the police, the Riau Regional Police's Special Criminal Investigation Directorate is also handling one case in the Bengkalis area with two suspects. The case relates to a land fire in a company concession area allegedly encroached by two residents.
In handling forest and land fire cases, he added, investigators can apply Law Number 32 of 2009 concerning Environmental Protection and Management. If a fire occurs in a forest area, investigators can also use Law No. 41 of 1999 concerning Forestry and Law No. 18 of 2013 concerning the Prevention and Eradication of Forest Destruction.
"In addition, the latest provisions in the Criminal Code (KUHP), particularly Article 308, can also be applied according to the context of each case," he said.
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