inp.polri.go.id - Pekanbaru. The Riau Regional Police and its ranks have handled 55 forest and land fire cases throughout 2026. Of these dozens of cases, the police have named 55 suspects, with a total burned area related to the cases reaching 3,378.23 hectares.
The Director of Special Criminal Investigation at the Riau Regional Police, Senior Superintendent Ade Kuncoro Ridwan, stated in Pekanbaru on Monday (9/14/2026) that this number represents an increase compared to data from Friday (9/11/2026). At that time, the police recorded 50 cases with 53 suspects and a burned area of 3,234.96 hectares.
"There are five additional cases, two suspects, and approximately 143.27 hectares of burned area currently under investigation," he said.
Based on the area handled, Pelalawan is the largest burned area related in the cases, reaching 2,503.1 hectares.
Of the 55 cases, 36 are still under investigation. Two cases have P19 status, while the other 17 have completed phase II or been handed over to the public prosecutor.
In terms of the number of cases, the Bengkalis Sub-regional Police and Indragiri Hilir Sub-regional Police have the highest number of cases, each with 10 cases and 10 suspects. Meanwhile, the Pelalawan Sub-regional Police are handling nine cases with 10 suspects.
Ade said the increase in the number of cases indicates that law enforcement in forest and land fire cases continues to proceed alongside fire management on the ground.
According to him, the police are not just stopping at naming suspects, but also ensuring that the evidentiary process in each case is accountable, right up to the prosecution stage.
"Law enforcement must be carried out professionally and based on evidence. We ensure that every case is handled thoroughly, and anyone proven to have committed a forest and land fire crime must be held accountable for their actions," said Ade.
Meanwhile, the Head of Public Relations for the Riau Regional Police, Senior Superintendent Akmadi, stated that prevention, extinguishing, and law enforcement measures against forest and land fires continue to be carried out simultaneously.
"We remind you that any burning activity that meets the elements of a crime will be processed according to legal provisions," he said.
This step is part of the Riau Regional Police's efforts to suppress forest and land fires and ensure that any suspected criminal acts are handled according to legal provisions.
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