Indonesian law enforcement authorities have formally named 20 corporate entities as suspects in ongoing investigations into widespread forest and land fires, locally known as karhutla. Announced by Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) Chief General Asep Safrudin during a press conference at the West Kalimantan Regional Police headquarters on Thursday, October 29, 2026, the sweeping legal action targets both domestic firms and foreign-backed enterprises originating from Malaysia, Singapore, and South Korea.
Did You Know?
According to the data presented by General Asep Safrudin, the total area affected across the 104 police reports processed by investigators covers thousands of hectares, specifically totaling 29,168.78 hectares of burned land.
Foreign and Domestic Firms Named in Fire Investigations
Among the 20 corporate suspects announced by Bareskrim Polri, four are foreign direct investment corporations, or penanaman modal asing (PMA), representing Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea. General Asep Safrudin identified these specific international entities as PT HKI, PT RKA, PT API, and PT AI. The remaining 16 corporate suspects are domestic enterprises operating under local investment structures.
Further elaborating on the broader investigation, Asep noted that authorities have processed a total of 104 police reports involving corporate land fires. Out of those initial 104 reports, 97 have successfully transitioned into the formal investigation stage. Within that broader group of 97 cases under active investigation, 22 involve foreign capital firms—including eight from Malaysia, nine from Singapore, two from the United Kingdom, one from China, one from Japan, and one from South Korea—while 75 involve domestic companies.
Modus Operandi and Legal Consequences Under Environmental Law
Investigators state that the corporate suspects are accused of unlawful actions involving both deliberate burning and severe negligence. According to Bareskrim Polri, the identified corporate modus operandi involves violating prevailing statutory regulations that subsequently cause severe environmental degradation, public health hazards through smoke and haze, and the destruction of vast swaths of land.
For these alleged offenses, the implicated corporations face severe legal exposure under Indonesian environmental legislation. Specifically, authorities intend to prosecute the suspects under Articles 98, 99, and 108 of Law Number 32 Year 2009 regarding Environmental Protection and Management. Convicted corporate entities face criminal penalties ranging from three to five years in prison for responsible parties alongside heavy financial sanctions, with statutory fines stretching from Rp 3 billion to Rp 15 billion.
Complete List of Corporate Suspects
The 20 corporate entities formally designated as suspects by the Indonesian National Police in connection with the forest and land fire cases are:
- 1. PT HKI (PMA Singapura)
- 2. PT RKA (PMA Malaysia)
- 3. PT API (PMA Korea Selatan)
- 4. PT AI (PMA Singapura)
- 5. PT BOS
- 6. PT AER
- 7. PT SKM
- 8. PT WLJ
- 9. PT SAE
- 10. PT BSLT
- 11. PT CGUK
- 12. PT FSL
- 13. PT BPK
- 14. PT PW
- 15. PT BWL
- 16. PT MIB
- 17. PT STP
- 18. PT JMS
- 19. PT RAS
- 20. PT MASS
Indonesian Police Name Twenty Corporations as Suspects in Forest Fire Investigations
How many corporations have been named as suspects by the police?
The Indonesian National Police has officially named 20 corporate entities as suspects in connection with ongoing forest and land fire investigations across the country.
Which countries are linked to the foreign capital corporations involved?
The four foreign direct investment corporations designated as suspects originate from Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea, specifically comprising PT HKI, PT RKA, PT API, and PT AI.
What specific legal articles and penalties apply to the accused corporations?
Implicated companies face prosecution under Articles 98, 99, and 108 of Law Number 32 Year 2009 regarding Environmental Protection and Management, carrying potential penalties of three to five years in prison and fines ranging from Rp 3 billion to Rp 15 billion.
How will ongoing police investigations impact future foreign investments and land management practices across the region?
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