inp.polri.go.id - South Sumatra. The handling of forest and land fire cases in South Sumatra continues. The South Sumatra Regional Police are currently handling 50 police reports, covering a total of 105,972 hectares of burned land.

Of these dozens of reports, police are investigating the alleged involvement of 16 corporations and 43 individual suspects who have been detained.

The Director of Special Criminal Investigation at the South Sumatra Regional Police, Senior Superintendent Doni Satrya Sembiring, stated that the forest and land fire cases being handled are divided into cases involving individual perpetrators and corporate entities.

"Of the 50 reports we are currently handling, 34 involve individual perpetrators, while the other 16 involve corporate entities. We have detained approximately 43 individual suspects," he said in Palembang on Saturday (9/26/2026).

A total of 16 companies suspected of involvement in the wildfires are now under investigation. These companies are spread across several regions in South Sumatra.

Based on preliminary investigations, police have found that the land burning was allegedly carried out for various reasons, ranging from negligence to intentional.

In the process of providing evidence, the South Sumatra Regional Police involved an expert on land and environmental damage from the Bogor Agricultural Institute (IPB), Prof. Basuki Wasis.

Basuki explained that the application of the articles to individual perpetrators refers to Articles 98 and 99 of Law Number 32 of 2009 concerning Environmental Protection and Management (UU PPLH), which are adjusted to the elements of intent and negligence.

"Meanwhile, corporations will be charged under Article 116 of the PPLH Law," said Basuki.

He emphasized that seeking economic gain cannot be used as justification for actions that have the potential to damage the environment.

To strengthen the investigation, a team of experts also visited the fire site. Soil samples were taken for laboratory analysis to determine the environmental damage caused by the fire.

Meanwhile, the Head of Public Relations for the South Sumatra Regional Police, Senior Superintendent Nandang Mu'min Wijaya, reminded the public not to clear land by burning.

The South Sumatra Regional Police, along with the joint task force, are also continuing to monitor and maintain 24-hour vigil to prevent the spread of forest and land fires and anticipate the emergence of a haze disaster.

(ad/ad/pr/rs)