Number: SP.151/HUMAS/PPIP/HMS.3/06/2022Investigators from the Directorate General of Law Enforcement (Gakkum) KLHK have named V alias A (36 years old) as a suspect in forest area encroachment in the Bukit Mangkol Grand Forest Park (Tahura) Area, Central Bangka Regency, Bangka Belitung Islands Province.V is a rental entrepreneur and owns a heavy equipment repair shop, who resides in Simpang Katis District, Central Bangka Regency, Bangka Belitung Islands Province.Currently, V has been detained by KLHK investigators at the Salemba Class II A Detention Center, Jakarta.The results of the investigation revealed that V was suspected of having committed a criminal act of encroachment and carried out land backfilling in the Bukit Mangkol Conservation Forest area by using 2 (two) heavy excavators and 1 (one) bulldozer unit covering an area of ​​± 2.23 Ha.V is also alleged to have damaged the environment and cut off tributaries, thereby changing the natural landscape of the river in Tahura Bukit Mangkol.According to the Director of Criminal Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Yazid Nurhuda, in a written statement (30/5/2022) said that environmental destruction and encroachment of the Bukit Mangkol Conservation area by V alias A are serious crimes that are of concern to the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, given the importance of the Bukit Mangkol Tahura ecosystem for the community. the people of Bangka.The Bukit Mangkol Forest Park has been designated as a Tahura Area through the Decree of the Minister of Environment and Forestry SK.575/Menlhk/Setjen/PLA.2/7/2016 concerning the Determination of Functions in the Main Functions of the Nature Reserve Area and Nature Conservation Area as the Bukit Mangkol Grand Forest Park Area , in Central Bangka Regency, Bangka Belitung Islands Province covering an area of ​​6,009.51 Ha."The action taken by the KLHK Gakkum must be a lesson for other parties who carry out environmental and forest destruction activities in Bangka Belitung, especially in the Bukit Mangkol Forest Park," said Yazid.Yazid added that currently there are several other actors who are being investigated by KLHK investigators related to allegations of environmental destruction and illegal mining in Bangka Belitung, including the Bukit Mangkol Forest Park.The threat of punishment for V alias A is very heavy, up to 10 years in prison and a criminal fine of up to Rp.5 billion rupiah, based on Article 78 paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 50 paragraph (3) letter a of the Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 41 of 1999 concerning Forestry as amended in Article 36 paragraph 19 Article 78 paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 36 paragraph 17 Article 50 paragraph (2) letter a of Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 11 of 2021 concerning Job Creation."We are currently studying and preparing multiple layers of punishment against V, which include the imposition of environmental crimes based on Article 98 paragraph (1) of the Republic of Indonesia Law Number 32 of 2009 concerning Environmental Protection and Management, which carries a minimum imprisonment of 3 years and a maximum of 3 years imprisonment. 10 years and a criminal fine of at least Rp.3 billion and a maximum of Rp.10 billion," said Yazid.The disclosure of this case began with a complaint addressed to the Provincial LHK Office of Kep.Bangka Belitung related to illegal activities suspected of entering the Tahura Area.Following up on this, the Forest Security Officer (Pamhut) of the Environment Agency of Central Bangka Regency as the manager of the Bukit Mangkol Tahura carried out routine patrols in the Simpang Katis District area and found 1 bulldozer unit inside the Tahura and 2 excavators parked near a hut located in APL which is directly adjacent to with Tahura.After being investigated by the KLHK Gakkum investigator, the activities carried out by V alias A were in the Bukit Mangkol Tahura forest area.Law enforcement related to illegal activities on Bangka Island, especially in the forest area of ​​Tahura Bukit Mangkol, has become a concern of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.Previously, the convict Masdar alias Jojon who carried out illegal tin mining activities in Air Mesu Village, Pangkalan Baru District, had been convicted by a judge at the Koba District Court.He was sentenced to imprisonment for 3 years 6 months and a criminal fine of Rp.1.5 billion subsidiary 3 months in prison.Another case of forest destruction is the destruction of the protected forest area in Lubuk Besar where the convict Azeman bin H. Maharam was sentenced to 4 years 6 months in prison and a criminal fine of Rp.3 billion."There are several other cases that we are currently working on and have handled," Yazid added.Considering that the actions taken have not yet produced a deterrent effect for perpetrators of environmental destruction, forest encroachment and illegal tin mining in Bangka Belitung, suspect V alias A must be punished with the maximum and severest punishment, both imprisonment and criminal fines, so that there is a deterrent effect and a lesson learned. for others, said Yazid Nurhuda.V alias A should be punished to the maximum because he has damaged conservation forest areas, water sources and flood control for the city of Pangkalpinang and its surroundings.The destruction of the Bukit Mangkol Tahura Area as done by V alias A will get worse and add to the suffering of the surrounding Pangkalpinang community.Enforcement and control of illegal activities in forest areas, both plantations and mining as well as environmental destruction on Bangka Island requires the support and active role of the Regional Government, law enforcement officers and the surrounding community.“The Ministry of Environment and Forestry is committed to enforcing environmental and forestry laws.Currently, the KLHK Gakkum has carried out at least 1,801 operations to restore the security of forest and environmental areas, of which 1,199 cases of environmental and forestry crimes have been brought to court,” concluded Yazid. (*) ___ Jakarta, KLHK, June 1, 2022Further information: Director of Criminal Law Enforcement, KLHK Yazid Nurhuda - 082113880397Person in charge of news: Head of Public Relations Bureau of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry Nunu AnugrahWebsite: www.menlhk.go.id www.ppid.menlhk.go.idFacebook: Ministry of Environment and ForestryMinistry of Environment and Forestry PPID / Public Relations BureauManggala Wanabakti Building Block I Lt.1 Jl.Gatot Subroto - Senayan - Jakarta 10270 Indonesia Tel : +62-21-5730484 / +62-21-5730118/119 Fax : +62-21-5710484 /+62-21-5705099