Meranti islands, Indonesia – Authorities have arrested two individuals in connection with separate land fires that occurred in July and August 2025, resulting in significant forest damage. The Riau Regional Police announced the arrests as part of a broader crackdown on forestry crimes, which has seen 46 arrests and over 2,225 hectares of forest damaged this year.
In the first incident, a suspect identified as HR is accused of setting fire to land on August 3, 2025, in the Meranti Islands. According to a press release from Aldi, the fire was set during daylight hours, and the suspect subsequently left the scene. The blaze spread, consuming approximately 0.5 hectares of land. Evidence collected by police at this location included a machete, a match, dried coconut fronds, and burnt grass.
the second arrest involved a suspect named H, who allegedly set fire to his own land in Tenan Village, Tebing Tinggi Barat District, on July 29, 2025. This fire reportedly spread and burned 1 hectare of land. Residents first became aware of this fire after hearing a distant explosion. The police seized two machetes, a match, burnt wood, and several plant seeds as evidence from this scene.The suspect H was apprehended and is currently being questioned at the Meranti Islands Police Station.
Both HR and H face charges under Article 78 Paragraph (4) of Law No. 41 of 1999 concerning Forestry, as amended by Law No.6 of 2023 concerning job creation. They are also charged under Article 187 or Article 188 of the Criminal Code, carrying a potential maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment.
The Riau Regional Police have been actively addressing forestry crimes, with Riau Police Chief Inspector General Herry reporting on July 9, 2025, that 44 cases of burning and illegal logging had been uncovered so far in the year. These cases have led to the arrest of 46 individuals,with the primary motive identified as land clearing for oil palm plantations.Herry also detailed that 17 wildfire cases involving 22 suspects have been handled, resulting in damage to approximately 66 hectares of forest land. In addition to fires, 27 illegal logging reports have been investigated, leading to the arrest of 24 suspects and the damage of 2,225 hectares of forest land.
