TIME indonesia

Indonesia Arrests Executives Accused of Being Behind the Region’s Notorious Haze

Personnel from another 20 companies are said to be under investigation

[video id=xdzj36AS ]

With much of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore affected by choking seasonal air pollution, Indonesian authorities have arrested executives from seven companies it says are partly responsible.

“The haze” is an annual phenomenon caused by both large companies and smallholders setting illegal fires to clear jungle for palm-oil and pulp plantations, the BBC reports.

According to the BBC, Indonesian authorities said those arrested were from companies based in Sumatra or Indonesian Borneo, but did not reveal how many executives were arrested.

Another 20 companies are reportedly under investigation. The individuals involved could face penalties of up to 10 years in prison.

The haze poses serious health problems for affected areas. More than 22,500 cases of acute respiratory tract infections have so far been recorded in southern Sumatra with 100,000 in East Kalimantan province. More than 1.5 million students have meanwhile been sent home from school closures in Malaysia.

Organizers of the famed Formula 1 Grand Prix in Singapore say the event will go ahead despite the air quality.

[BBC]

 

Your browser is out of date. Please update your browser at http://update.microsoft.com


YOU BROKE TIME.COM!

Dear TIME Reader,

As a regular visitor to TIME.com, we are sure you enjoy all the great journalism created by our editors and reporters. Great journalism has great value, and it costs money to make it. One of the main ways we cover our costs is through advertising.

The use of software that blocks ads limits our ability to provide you with the journalism you enjoy. Consider turning your Ad Blocker off so that we can continue to provide the world class journalism you have become accustomed to.

The TIME Team