inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The National Police Commission (Kompolnas) supports the Indonesian National Police's (INP) comprehensive investigation of forest and land fires.
Law enforcement should not stop at perpetrators caught in the field, but must also investigate the mastermind behind the crime, including individuals and companies.
Kompolnas Commissioner Choirul Anam stated that a comprehensive investigation is necessary so that handling forest and land fires goes beyond extinguishing fires and arresting perpetrators in the field, but also uncovers those behind the fires.
"Kompolnas fully supports our police colleagues in enforcing the law on this forest fire problem, and encourages them not to stop the arrest at the perpetrators in the field," Anam said in a statement in Jakarta (8/26/2026).
According to Anam, this support aligns with the steps taken by INP Headquarters and several regional police in handling forest and land fires, including the investigation conducted by the Riau Regional Police.
He emphasized that individuals and companies proven to be primarily responsible or involved in forest and land fires must be prosecuted according to applicable legal mechanisms.
"We are providing support for a more comprehensive investigation, and the most responsible actors, whether individuals or companies, must be sanctioned through our law enforcement mechanisms," he said.
Anam believes that firm law enforcement is a form of state involvement in addressing the recurring problem of forest and land fires. He believes that forest and land fires are not merely a matter of momentary fire and smoke, but can become a recurring problem if the root causes are not addressed.
"Because this happens frequently. It happened some time ago, and then it happened again. Under the pretext of clearing land for cheaper prices, and so on," he said.
Dozens of suspects have been named in the handling of the forest and land fire cases. The perpetrators are suspected of deliberately burning a total area of 1,006.67 hectares of land to reduce plantation operational costs.
Based on the distribution of cases handled by the regional police, the most hotspots were found in West Kalimantan with 2,282, followed by Riau with 1,201.
During the investigation, authorities also seized several pieces of evidence, including 35 lighters, bottles and jerry cans filled with fuel, machetes, hoes, and oil palm seedlings.
The perpetrators were charged under Law Number 41 of 1999 concerning Forestry. For deliberate forest burning, the penalty is up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to IDR 5 billion.
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