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View all search resultsBatam businessman imprisoned for mangrove deforestation
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T
he Batam District Court in the Riau Islands has sentenced PT Prima Makmur Batam (PMB) director Zazli bin Kamel to five years and six months in prison and has ordered him to pay a Rp 1 billion (US$68,000) fine for clearing 6 hectares of mangrove forest for the construction of a residential development.
Judge David Sitorus read out the verdict during an online hearing on Tuesday. Zazli was found guilty of violating Law No. 32/2009 on the environment for damaging the air, water and sea water quality in the surrounding area.
The prison sentence was lower than the prosecutors’ demand of eight years’ imprisonment.
Environment and Forestry Ministry law enforcement director general Rasio Ridho Sani said he appreciated the Batam court’s verdict.
“The legal process went well. This should be an example to other courts to enforce the law and take stern measures against those who destroy forests,” Rasio told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
Batam Prosecutor’s Office head Polin Octavianus Sitanggang said the office was waiting for the defendant’s response to the verdict.
“If the defendant wants to appeal, we will continue the trial,” Polin said, adding that the prosecutors had accepted the verdict because it fulfilled two thirds of the sentence they had demanded.
