PONTIANAK, West Kalimantan: The Attorney General's Office in Jakarta is taking over a case concerning the illegal clearing of 1,300 hectares of mangrove in Kubu Raya regency because the local court is unable to handle it, a local official said Thursday.
Director General for Forest Conservation and Natural Resources Darori said the takeover was endorsed by the forestry minister, Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), AGO and National Police.
"It's happening because the local court has no capacity to handle the case," he was quoted as saying by Antara news agency.
Darori said the local court failed to meet the one-month deadline in February to investigate the case.
The mangrove was cleared to make way for a brackish fishpond pilot project by the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry. In 2008, West Kalimantan governor Usman Ja'far, now a member of the House of Representatives in Jakarta, led a fish harvest ceremony at the pond in a show of support for the project. The local government developed the area by setting up an electricity grid, roads and a school. - JP
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