Suka Makmue – The Suka Makmue District Court has sentenced Afrizal bin Alm. Rasyidin Musa guilty in an environmental crime case after being proven to have exploited forest products without a permit in a state forest area.

The panel of judges found the defendant legally and convincingly guilty of violating the Forestry Law, which carries a sentence of two years' imprisonment and a fine of Rp 1 billion. If the fine is not paid, the defendant will serve an additional six months in prison.

Victory for Forests and Indigenous Peoples

This ruling is the result of long-term work by civil society organizations and independent monitors who have consistently pushed for law enforcement against forestry violations. Dozens of logs from illegal logging and production documents used for illegal logging were successfully secured as evidence and confiscated for the state.

"This ruling is a moral and legal victory for the people and nature. It proves that the law can still work to protect forests, despite the significant challenges," said Syukur, Director of the APEL Green Aceh Foundation.

Important Precedent in Environmental Law Enforcement

This verdict sets an important precedent for those still engaging in illegal logging, both individuals and corporations. This success demonstrates that public reporting and participatory monitoring are powerful tools for stopping environmental crimes.

"We hope this ruling serves as a stern warning and encourages more serious efforts from the government to protect forest areas and customary territories from systematic destruction," Syukur added.

Continue to Monitor Execution and Law Enforcement

The APEL Green Aceh Foundation emphasized that it will continue to monitor the legal process until it is completed and urged law enforcement officials to take action against other actors behind the chain of illegal logging and forest destruction.

This is not the end of the struggle. It is a new beginning for building ecological justice and a sustainable future for forests in Aceh and throughout Indonesia.