Antara News·Indonesia·Thursday, September 24, 2026 at 06:39 AM

Chinese National named suspect in Raja Ampat turtle case

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Yuvensius LB, Rahmad Nasution

Aimas, Southwest Papua (ANTARA) - Police in Indonesia’s Southwest Papua Province have named a Chinese national, identified as WS, a suspect in the alleged poaching of a protected hawksbill turtle in Raja Ampat’s conservation area.

Southwest Papua Police's Director of Criminal Investigation, Senior Commissioner Iwan P. Manurung, said in Sorong District on Wednesday that the suspect designation followed an investigation, witness interviews, and the seizure of evidence.

“The case has been upgraded to an investigation, and this morning we conducted a case review to designate a foreign national identified as WS as a suspect,” he said.

The case began after information circulated on social media about a foreign national diving in Raja Ampat, prompting investigators to examine the reported activity.

Investigators from the police’s Subdirectorate 4 for Specific Crimes conducted a crime-scene examination in the waters around the Fam Islands, West Waigeo Subdistrict, Raja Ampat.

The examination focused on a reef north of Ormandira Homestay, where the alleged hunting of protected wildlife reportedly took place.

Police said their investigation indicated that the foreign national had dived in the area and allegedly hunted a hawksbill turtle, a protected species.

Investigators have questioned four witnesses and seized turtle bones and shells, a machete, mask, snorkel, knife, mat, cooking spices, corned beef, gas cylinder, pot and chopsticks.

Police also seized items allegedly linked to the suspect, including a Canon G16 and DJI Action 6 cameras, four iPhones and Xiaomi phones, an underwater camera, a wireless microphone, and storage devices.

Other seized items included memory cards, card readers, a hard drive, SIM cards, a Xiaomi laptop, identity documents, and travel documents.

Iwan said investigators are applying Law No. 32 of 2024, which amended Law No. 5 of 1990 on the Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and Ecosystems.

“We have charged the suspect under Article 40A paragraph (1) letter d and Article 40B paragraph (2) of Law No. 32 of 2024,” he said.

Iwan said investigators were still determining the suspect’s motive, but preliminary questioning indicated he had dived with two other people in Raja Ampat.

“The motive is still under investigation. What is clear is that this was his first visit to the homestay, and they dived to hunt wildlife in Raja Ampat,” he said.

Iwan added that investigators had found no evidence of local residents’ involvement in the case at the time of questioning.

“We have not found any involvement of local residents,” he said.

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