Indonesian Police Send Personnel to Ketapang
Friday, 04 April, 2008 | 15:54 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Ketapang: Indonesian Police Headquarters sent personnel to Ketapang district in West Kalimantan, to investigate the illegal logging. “We are serious about this,” said Police Chief, General Sutanto, when observing 12 thousands cubic meters of confiscated logs in the Pawan river, Ketapang, yesterday. It is predicted that the logs are worth Rp 208 billion.

Sutanto said that the team will hunt the brokers and punish police member involved in illegal logging. The suspects will be processed in Jakarta.

Based on the investigation of 17 suspects, police are possibly involved in this case. Two people are already decided as main targets: Auon As and Adi Murdiani, a candidate for deputy regent of Kayong Utara . It is reported that the police received Rp 120 million from every boat carrying illegal logs.

Indonesian Police Headquarters send their personnel to obtain more information. It is confirmed by General Bambang Heandarso Danuri, head of Criminal Investigation of Police Headquarters. “But do not ask the details of the process to me,” he said.

Public Relations of the Police, Bambang Kuncoko, said one of brokers, Wijaya, was arrested in Pontianak. Auon As is still being hunted and it is suspected that he is the one receiving logs from Andrew Wong and Benny Wong, brokers from Malaysia.

Illegal logs from Ketapang was taken to Sematan Port in Malaysia, where a company of hardwood timber is located. It is owned by Sarawak head minister, Taib bin Mahmud. The investigative team has examined this area and found the tree cutting location in Sandai, West Kalimantan.

There are 30 boats carrying Indonesian logs from Indonesia to Malaysia. Every boat contains 800 cubic meter of logs. Bambang said. In one day, Indonesia lost Rp 432 billion or Rp Rp 12.96 trillion for one month.

Forestry Minister, M.S. Kaban, will complain to Malaysia about it.

HARRY DAYA