Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The Southeast Sulawesi Regional Police, in coordination with the East Kolaka Sub-regional Police, named a man identified by the initials AN as a suspect for intentionally burning 80 hectares of limited production forest land in Wesalo Village, Lalolae District, East Kolaka Regency. 

Speaking in Kendari on Sunday (13/9/2026) Southeast Sulawesi Police Director of Special Criminal Investigation Senior Superintendent Wisnu Wibowo confirmed the legal status following witness examinations and a formal case exposition.

"Two witnesses observed suspect AN starting the fire, and the suspect confessed to burning bamboo using a lighter, which subsequently spread to surrounding vegetation," he said, as cited by antaranews.com.

Investigators established that suspect AN acted independently. 

Authorities charged the suspect under Forestry Law No. 41 of 1999 as amended by the Job Creation Law. The police task force continues to coordinate with public prosecutors and forestry experts while maintaining field cooling-down operations across the affected site to prevent recu