inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The Indonesian National Police (INP) have named 89 individual suspects in wildfires that have occurred in several regions of Indonesia. This number has increased from the previous 72 suspects.
The Director of Special Crimes Investigation at the INP Criminal Investigation Agency, Brigadier General M. Irhamni, stated that the police are continuing to search for and prosecute perpetrators of forest and land fires.
"We are intensively and proactively searching for the perpetrators of the burning. As of last Saturday, there were approximately 89 suspects," Irhamni told the media, as quoted on Sunday (8/30/2026).
The 89 suspects were named after the police received 189 reports related to alleged forest and land fires. The regional police, along with the Directorate of Special Crimes are also continuing to investigate and examine several crime scenes.
According to Irhamni, the increase in the number of suspects is the result of strengthened case handling at the regional level through assistance provided by the regional police and the Directorate of Certain Crimes.
"So, the increase from yesterday's number is in line with the active assistance of colleagues from the Regional Police and the Criminal Investigation Agency," he said.
INP confirmed that the investigation will not stop at individual perpetrators. Investigators are still looking into the possibility of corporate involvement, including the alleged ordering of the burning.
"Don't worry, if there is any evidence, no matter how small, that confirms that it was indeed an order from a corporation, we will pursue it and take action," Irhamni emphasized.
The action against forest and land fire perpetrators comes amid an increase in forest and land fires in various regions of Indonesia throughout 2026.
Data from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) recorded 454 forest and land fire incidents throughout this year.
Meanwhile, data from the Ministry of Forestry's Forest and Land Fire Monitoring System shows that the burned area from January to July 2026 reached 202,010.96 hectares.
This figure is nearly double the 107,465.47 hectares recorded at the end of June 2026. This means that approximately 94,545.49 hectares of land burned in just one month, July.
INP continues to conduct an in-depth investigation to ensure that all parties proven to be involved in the forest and land fires, both individual perpetrators and those who gave orders, are prosecuted according to the law.
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