Andrie Wibowo Eka Wardhana (41 years old), the individual implicated in the Bromo wildfire scam in 2023, has officially been sentenced to 2.6 years in prison along with a fine of IDR 3.5 billion. The Chief Judge, I Made Yuliada, announced this decision during the hearing on 31st January 2024, at the Kraksaan District Court in Probolinggo.
The judge’s ruling is perceived as more lenient compared to the prosecutor’s request for a 3-year imprisonment term and a fine of IDR 3 billion. The judge reasoned that the Bromo forest fire culprit was found guilty of negligence in causing the forest to burn, as stipulated in Article 78, paragraph 5, and Article 50, Paragraph 2, letter B of Law Number 41 of 1999 concerning forestry.
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Andrie Wibowo, a manager for a wedding organizer, is a suspect in the Bromo forest fire case. The fire, which took place on Teletubbies Hill in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park (TNBTS), was ignited during a pre-wedding photo session using flares, causing sparks to directly hit the dry grass.
The incident, which unfolded on 6th September 2023, garnered significant attention among the Indonesian populace. The Bromo forest fire resulted in state losses of up to IDR 1.5 billion, with the total incurred expenses for fire extinguishment reaching IDR 8.3 billion.
The Bromo fires reached their peak on 14th September 2023, affecting a total land area of 989 hectares. The decision to name Andrie Wibowo as a suspect is based on evidence indicating that the suspect lacked a permit to enter the conservation area and was negligent in carrying matches, leading to the outbreak of the fire.
Despite the significant fire incident towards the end of 2023, tourists are now able to revisit Bromo as the burned area has started to regenerate with new grass, returning to its lush green state as before.
