World · East Asia & Pacific · 50 mins ago
Indonesia Names 245 People and 20 Firms as Forest Fire Suspects
Indonesian police have named 245 people and 20 companies as suspects in forest fires across the country.
Police recorded 287 reports involving individuals, with more than 5,859 hectares burned, and 104 reports involving companies, with about 29,169 hectares burned.
Four of the 20 companies are foreign-investment firms, while 16 are Indonesian businesses.
Police say the fires can harm communities and the environment, and some may have been caused by deliberate or negligent land clearing.
Police have recommended revoking permits for 23 companies, citing repeated fires, fires inside their concession areas and inadequate fire-prevention equipment.
Investigations will continue as police examine evidence, and the number of corporate suspects could rise.
Indonesian police named 20 companies as suspects in the country’s 2026 forest and land fires.
Four of the companies are foreign-investment firms, and 16 are domestic businesses.
Police said the cases involving companies account for 104 reports and 29,168.78 hectares burned.
Police also named 245 individual suspects in cases covering about 5,860 hectares.
Authorities have recommended revoking the business permits of 23 companies over repeated fires and fire-prevention shortcomings.
- Who
- Indonesian police named 20 companies and 245 individuals as suspects. Four companies are foreign-investment firms.
- What
- The suspects are linked to forest and land fires. Police are investigating the cases and have recommended revoking 23 companies’ permits.
- When
- The companies were named on October 29, 2026.
- Where
- The fires occurred across various regions of Indonesia. The announcement was made in Pontianak, West Kalimantan.
- Why
- Police said the cases concern fires that cause harm to communities and the environment, including fires linked to company concessions and inadequate prevention measures.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
President Prabowo Subianto ordered police and prosecutors to pursue individuals and companies over the fires.
Senior executives from 10 Indonesian companies were called to a meeting with Singapore’s Senior Minister K. Shanmugam.
Police announced 20 company suspects and 245 individual suspects at a briefing in Pontianak.
Indonesian parliament member Abdullah called for faster enforcement and the seizure of company assets proven to come from crimes.
- Company suspects
- 20
- Foreign-investment companies among suspects
- 4
- Domestic companies among suspects
- 16
- Individual suspects
- 245
- Company-related reports
- 104
- Area burned in company-related cases
- 29,168.78 hectares
7 sources
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What people are saying
We will not allow forest fires, whether accidental or intentional, to harm the community and the environment.
The number of corporate suspects will continue to grow as our investigations proceed.
Addressing forest fires is a shared responsibility. The police not only enforce the law but also promote preventive measures through outreach and community involvement.
However, this issue should not be viewed as an ordinary crime because its impact on nature and people is extraordinary.