Judge Under Fire

Throughout the court hearing, Rasio Ridho Sani, director-general for the environment ministry's law enforcement, could be seen fidgeting restlessly. He would look at his cellphone for text messages. Occasionally, he would rise to talk to other visitors in the courtroom in the Palembang District Court. On that particular Wednesday a fortnight ago, the judge read out his ruling over the ministry's charges against Bumi Mekar Hijau company.

The ministry had sued Bumi Mekar for a Rp7.9 trillion compensation for burning a 20,000-hectare forest concession plot. This is the largest suit ever filed by the government in a case related to intentional forest fires. But, the panel of judges presided by Parlas Nababanwith Eliwarti and Kartijono as panel membersrejected the entire lawsuit.

January 12, 2016