Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s Forestry Ministry has arrested three suspects for illegally trading and farming land inside a protected forest in South Sulawesi, uncovering an informal land-rights sales scheme, officials confirmed Monday.
“Practices like this must be stopped immediately. State forest areas cannot be bought, sold, or transferred without valid legal permits,” said Ali Bahri, head of the ministry’s Sulawesi Forestry Law Enforcement Agency.
The suspects, identified by their initials AR, AI, and AW, were caught red-handed on August 3 after illegally clearing 1.5 hectares of protected land in East Luwu Regency to plant roughly 1,500 pepper trees.
Investigators found the suspects had acquired the plot through an informal land-use transfer payment from previous illegal occupants.
Authorities warned that such informal land trades serve as a gateway for expanding forest encroachment.
Officers seized a work hut and farming tools used by the suspects, who now face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of Rp7.5 billion (around $468,000).
“If left unchecked, this pattern causes encroachment to shift from person to person and expand,” Bahri added, emphasizing that law enforcement aims to sever the cycle driving forest destruction.
Director General of Forestry Law Enforcement Dwi Januanto Nugroho stated that the operation forms part of broader efforts to safeguard ecological functions and deter repeated environmental crimes across state forests.
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Translator: Prisca Triferna Violleta, Aditya Eko Sigit Wicakso
Editor: Arie Novarina
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