Police asked to probe illegal logging

SURABAYA: East Java Governor Soekarwo has asked the police to investigate the alleged illegal logging practices at a mangrove conservation area in the city.

“I am appealing to the police to act immediately, investigate and catch whoever is guilty of damaging the mangrove conservation area. We also want illicit officials to be held responsible for the destruction,” he said on Monday.

Surabaya municipality designated it a conservation area in 2010, with it holding diverse kinds of plants and animals.

Apart from illegal logging, hot mudflow from nearby Porong has also been threatening the area.

Surabaya detective police officer Adj. Sr. Comr. Anom Wibowo said that they had been questioning several witnesses. — JP