October 15, 2025 | 05:33 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Attorney General's Office (AGO) and the Ministry of Forestry have named two suspects, a corporation and an individual, in the illegal trade of logs resulting from illegal logging in the Mentawai Islands.
Anang Supriatna, the Head of Public Relations for the AGO, confirmed that the case is a joint effort between the AGO and the Directorate General of Law Enforcement of the Ministry of Forestry. "The suspects are one corporation, PT Berkah Rimba Nusantara (PT BRN), and one individual with the initials IM," Anang announced on Tuesday, October 15, 2025.
The total volume of illegally traded round logs is estimated at 12,000 cubic meters. PT BRN carried out the illegal logging, and the harvested wood was subsequently sold to PT Hutan Lestari Mukti Perkasa in Gresik, East Java.
The suspects conducted three illegal trading transactions between July and October 2025. Their operation was uncovered during the third transaction when the wood was seized at Gresik Port. Further investigation confirmed the logs originated from the Sipora Forest in the Mentawai Islands, West Sumatra.
Anang stated that the illegal logging operations caused damage to 730 hectares of forest area, including production forest zones. The estimated total state loss from this illegal wood trading amounts to Rp239 billion. This figure comprises Rp198 billion for ecosystem damages and Rp41 billion for the economic value of the wood itself.
The company's modus operandi involved exploiting the legitimate land rights holder (PHAT), which covered 140 hectares owned by the individual suspect, IM. However, the suspects illegally expanded their logging activities far beyond this limit, encompassing the full 730-hectare area.
The AGO will handle the case directly through the Deputy Attorney General for General Crimes. Anang also noted that the number of suspects could potentially increase.
The suspects face charges under the Forestry Law and the Law on Prevention of Forest Destruction. The maximum penalty for these offenses is 15 years in prison and a fine of up to Rp15 billion.
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