Enviro News Asia, North Sumatra — The Ministry of Forestry, through the Directorate General of Law Enforcement (Ditjen Gakkum), sealed three additional legal entities on December 10, 2025, in South Tapanuli, North Sumatra. Officials sealed three PHAT units—PHAT JAS, PHAT AR, and PHAT RHS—after identifying alleged violations related to forest management in the region.
Ditjen Gakkum teams also conducted on-site verification and crime-scene analysis at the operational areas of PT TBS/PT SN and PLTA BT/PT NSHE, where officers found warning signs issued by the Forest Area Control Task Force (Satgas PKH). All five legal entities inspected or sealed during the operation are located in South Tapanuli.
The Ministry reported that 11 legal subjects have now undergone sealing and/or field verification, consisting of four corporations—PT TPL, PT AR, PT TBS/PT SN, and PLTA BT/PT NSHE—and seven PHAT units—JAM, AR, RHS, AR, JAS, DHP, and M. Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni stated that these actions follow allegations of illegal harvesting or extraction of forest products without proper authorization, a violation under Article 50 paragraph (2) letter c of Law No. 41/1999 on Forestry. The provision carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to Rp3.5 billion, as stipulated in Article 78 paragraph (6).
Investigators are gathering evidence to analyze the network and methods behind the suspected forest ecosystem destruction, which is believed to have contributed to recent flash floods and landslides in South Tapanuli. At the PHAT JAM site, authorities discovered over 60 logs, approximately 150 processed timber pieces, one excavator, one damaged bulldozer, one damaged timber transport truck, two wood-splitting machines, one planer, and one drilling unit. These findings will be examined further in connection with an earlier case involving four timber-laden trucks linked to PHAT JAM, which lacked legal documentation.
To support the investigation, Ditjen Gakkum is coordinating with the South Tapanuli Regency Government to secure physical evidence. Minister Raja Juli urged regional authorities to strengthen cooperation, emphasizing that the environmental crimes have severely damaged forest ecosystems and endangered local communities.
Director General of Forestry Law Enforcement, Dwi Januanto Nugroho, said the ministry will continue to investigate motives and identify suspects in collaboration with Satgas PKH. Ditjen Gakkum will focus on forestry crime investigations under Law No. 41/1999, while environmental damage linked to flooding will fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Environment. He added that investigations may extend beyond field perpetrators to parties who benefited from the illegal activities, including the potential application of money-laundering provisions.
In parallel with field verification and warning-sign installation, Ditjen Gakkum issued summonses to 12 legal subjects for clarification. As of December 10, six had complied—three corporations (PT AR, PT MST, and PBPH PT TN) and three PHAT units (A, AR, and RHS). PT TPL and PLTA BT/PT NSHE have requested rescheduled examination dates. (*)
