Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — The handling of an illegal forest encroachment case in Sadar Village, Bone Regency, South Sulawesi, has entered a new phase after forestry investigators officially transferred the suspect and case files to prosecutors. The suspect, identified only as M (62), allegedly cleared and converted approximately 1.3 hectares of state forest into plantation land and a poultry farm without legal permits.
The transfer process, known as Phase II, was carried out by the Sulawesi Regional Forestry Law Enforcement Center on Thursday (30 April 2026) after prosecutors at the Bone District Attorney’s Office declared the investigation complete, or P-21, allowing the case to proceed to prosecution.
During the process, prosecutors also conducted a direct inspection of the encroached forest area, which forms part of the evidence in the case.
Head of the Sulawesi Regional Forestry Law Enforcement Center, Ali Bahri, stated that the transfer demonstrates the government’s commitment to ensuring forestry crimes are prosecuted thoroughly and transparently.
“The implementation of Phase II proves that law enforcement against forestry crimes is being carried out seriously and consistently. We want to ensure that every violation within forest areas is processed to completion so it creates a deterrent effect and serves as a warning to others against illegally encroaching on forest land,” Ali Bahri said.
According to investigators, the suspect allegedly opened land inside a Limited Production Forest area previously covered by pine trees. The land was subsequently used for plantation activities and egg-laying poultry farming without official authorization.
Authorities identified M as both the owner and financier of the business operating inside the protected forest area.
The suspect was initially named in the investigation on 19 February 2026 following a series of inquiries into illegal land clearing activities within state forest territory.
Prosecutors charged the suspect under Article 78 paragraph (3) in conjunction with Article 50 paragraph (2) letter a of Indonesia’s Forestry Law No. 41 of 1999, as amended by Law No. 6 of 2023 on Job Creation. Under the law, the suspect faces a maximum prison sentence of 10 years and fines of up to Rp7.5 billion.
The Sulawesi Regional Forestry Law Enforcement Center emphasized that authorities will continue intensifying legal action against all forms of illegal activity within forest areas as part of efforts to preserve forest ecosystems and maintain their long-term ecological functions. (*)
