VIVAnews - Riau High District Attorney's Office and the Police Department issued an Investigation Suspension Warrant of illegal logging case. Only one company out of 14 will be presented before the court.
According to investigators there was lack of evidence on the case. Chief of Riau Police Department Brigadier General Hadiatmoko told reporters on Monday, Dec 22, that the suspension was a joint agreement with the attorney's office.
"We took the decision after expert witnesses on the environment testified against the case," he said. According to Hadiatmoko the illegal logging case has been investigated since 23 months ago.
However, Riau High District Attorney's Office always returned the documents because there were elements that did not satisfy the requirements of the applicable law.
Therefore, both Riau Police Department and High District Attorney's Office agreed to take the testimony of expert witnesses from the Department of the Environment and the Department of Forestry. Hadiatmoko said that the 14 companies have been proven to be not damaging the environment.
Hadiatmoko claimed that based on the information from the Department of Forestry only one company did not have a permit. "So, we are only taking one company before the court," he said.
In response to the issue, Indonesian Forum for Environment (Walhi) requested for the dismissal of the Chief of Riau Police Department. According to Director of Walhi of Riau, Johny S. Mundung, the 14 companies have violated provisions on the environment. "We are totally upset by the decision. It was nonsense. The decision only benefit the companies," Mundung told VIVAnews on Monday, Dec 22.
Mundung emphasized that law enforcers in Riau were not firm enough in enforcing the Law on the Environment. According to him the Riau Police Department and the High District Attorney's Office are insensitive over environmental damages.
In February 2007, the Indonesian Police Headquarters had arrested the management of the 14 companies for purportedly committing illegal logging. The Indonesian Police HQs had sealed two million cubic meters of natural timbers kept in two large paper companies in Riau.
Coverage: Hafiz Hasian - Riau
Translated by: Bonardo Maulana Wahono
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