inp.polri.go.id - Sampit. The East Kotawaringin Sub-regional Police, Central Kalimantan, have named seven suspects in seven police reports related to alleged wildfires.

The East Kotawaringin Sub-regional Police Chief, Sub-regional I Kadek Dwi Yoga Sidhimantra, stated on Friday (9/18/2026) that his team has not found any indication that the seven cases are part of a coordinated burning pattern.

"We are handling seven police reports with seven suspects. The perpetrators used fire to clear their own land, which then impacted neighboring land or gardens, causing the fire to spread," he said.

Of the seven suspects named, five have been detained. The other two cases are still under investigation by investigators.

"Currently, based on the cases we are handling, all involve private land. We have not yet identified any patterns or other elements," he emphasized.

In addition to these seven cases, police investigators, along with their respective police stations, are still investigating 19 other suspected forest and land fire cases. Cases involving corporations are being handled directly by the Central Kalimantan Regional Police.

In handling these seven cases, the police applied Article 308 paragraph (1) and Article 311 of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code. These provisions stipulate criminal penalties for acts that cause fires, explosions, or floods that endanger public safety for people or property.

Yoga emphasized that investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the fires and who is responsible, especially given the high threat of forest and land fires in the area.

"We continue to work with the others, including investigating each report to determine the cause of the fires and who is responsible. This is especially true considering the high threat of forest and land fires here," said Kadek.

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