Indonesia police chief says foreign actors may be tied to corporate forest fires
Police chief General Suyudi Ario Seto told officials that some of the 98 corporate fire cases under investigation involve foreign parties.
At a limited session on forest-fire response held at Jakarta's Presidential Palace, police chief General Suyudi Ario Seto disclosed that the Criminal Investigation Agency is reviewing 98 cases where corporations are linked to major fires. He confirmed that foreign entities are present among those cases, but investigators are still distinguishing between foreign investment and direct foreign participation. Suyudi suggested that some of the foreign links could stem from neighboring states, without naming any specific country.
The police intend to prosecute not only the firms but also their owners and shareholders. Between January and July 2026, about 202,000 hectares of land were burned, a scale three times larger than Jakarta, and smoke drifted into Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia and the Philippines.
Why it matters
Foreign involvement could complicate Indonesia's efforts to curb devastating forest fires and regional haze.
How this story developed
- Sep 28 Civil groups sue Indonesian government over West Kalimantan fire negligence
- Oct 1 President Prabowo Subianto has named Arrmanatha Nasir, known as Tata, to replace Sugiono as foreign minister amid a broader cabinet reshuffle.
- Oct 4 Arrmanatha Nasir was sworn in as foreign minister.
- Oct 8 Prime Minister Anwar said the worsening haze is a serious health risk and has asked President Prabowo to take action, while Malaysia ramps up cloud seeding.
- Oct 10 The class‑action suit moved to a hearing in Pontianak, where no defendants were present.
- Oct 15 The government, led by Sustainability and Environment Minister Grace Fu, is gathering evidence and keeping legal options open as PSI levels in western Singapore entered the very unhealthy range. The 2014 law allows fines up to S$100,000 per day, capped at S$2 million, for companies whose fires produce prolonged haze. Enforcement has been challenging, with limited data from Indonesian authorities and four firms still under investigation. Fu also urged Indonesia to curb the fires and called for ASEAN cooperation.
- Oct 16 President Prabowo appointed army general Kristomei Sianturi to lead BNPB.
- Oct 16 Indonesia formally accepted regional assistance and technical talks on its implementation are underway.
- Oct 16 Legal notices were served on seven Indonesian firms for their role in the haze.
- Oct 19 Student Alliance of Gadjah Mada University addressed ASEAN Secretary‑General urging scrutiny of Indonesia’s compliance and acceptance of regional firefighting support.
- Oct 19 Malaysia specified that it will provide three helicopters and 52 firefighters to support Indonesia’s fire‑fighting efforts.
In this story
Related stories
19 in this thread