inp.polri.go.id - Siak. Police arrested a fugitive in a forest and land fire case with the initials Y alias IM (48) in Siak Regency, Riau. The suspect is suspected of illegally clearing a palm oil plantation in a forest area with fire and obstructing officers during firefighting efforts.
Y was arrested by the Siak Sub-regional Police on Thursday (9/17/2026), after being named a suspect on September 8, 2026.
The case stemmed from a peatland fire in Pinang Sebatang Timur Village, Tualang District, Siak Regency, on August 7, 2026. The fire was located within the PT Arara Abadi concession area in Rasau Kuning District.
Siak Sub-regional Police Chief, Superintendent Sepuh Ade Irsyam Siregar, stated that the fire was first discovered by the company's patrol team through drone monitoring. Officers then went to the location to extinguish the fire.
Investigations indicate that the suspect allegedly set three fires to clear land for use as a palm oil plantation. The fire then spread, burning approximately 1.3 hectares of the two hectares of land controlled by the suspect.
"The suspect admitted to setting three fires to clear the land before planting oil palms. However, the fire spread and became uncontrollable, burning approximately 1.3 hectares of peatland," said Sepuh, Saturday (9/19/2026).
During the extinguishing process, officers were also obstructed when preparing the firebreaks using heavy equipment. This effort was made to prevent the fire from spreading to other areas.
The suspect, who was in a hut approximately 100 meters from the fire site, then approached officers. Y reportedly brought a dodos (a type of oil palm harvesting tool) and forbade the use of heavy equipment for fear of damaging his oil palm plantations.
As a result of this action, officers were unable to use heavy equipment to create firebreaks and had to rely on firefighting equipment.
"When officers attempted to create firebreaks, the suspect obstructed them because he did not want to damage his oil palm plantations. Firebreaks are necessary to limit the spread of fire," said Sepuh.
The fire was finally brought under control after dozens of company personnel, security officers, and a rapid response team were deployed to the scene.
During the investigation, police also discovered that the land controlled by the suspect was located in a forest area within the company's concession area. At the location, planted oil palm trees and several seedlings were found, prepared for planting.
Police also secured several pieces of evidence, including a hoe, a chainsaw, two machetes, a dodos, oil palm seedlings, bottles containing Pertalite, biodiesel, and oil, and three pieces of burnt wood.
Meanwhile, the Head of Public Relations of the Riau Regional Police, Senior Superintendent Akmadi, emphasized that the handling of the forest and land fire case is not solely focused on the alleged perpetrators of the arson. Police are also investigating allegations of illegal control and use of forest areas.
"Handling forest and land fires does not stop at who started the fires. Investigators are also looking into land use activities, including allegations of illegal plantation activities within forest areas. Any party proven to have violated the law will be held accountable," Akmadi said.
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