DENPASAR, BALINEWS — Former head of Bali’s Forestry and Environment Agency, I Made Teja, appeared for his first trial at the Denpasar District Court on Thursday (Oct. 1, 2026), facing charges of negligence in the management of the Suwung Regional Landfill that prosecutors allege contributed to environmental pollution and/or damage, including to a mangrove area.
The indictment was read by Denpasar District Prosecutor Ni Komang Swastini, who said the Suwung Regional Landfill was managed within the authority of the Bali provincial government and operationally fell under the Bali Forestry and Environment Agency.
“Operationally, the management of the Suwung Landfill was under the Bali Provincial Forestry and Environment Agency,” the prosecutor told the court.
According to prosecutors, Teja, who headed the agency at the time, was responsible for environmental pollution and damage control, waste management, supervision of landfill operations and ensuring that waste management complied with environmental standards.
However, prosecutors alleged that the Suwung landfill had exceeded its capacity. They also cited problems involving the wastewater treatment facility and the management of leachate, the liquid generated as water passes through waste.
The conditions were allegedly linked to environmental pollution and/or damage in areas surrounding the landfill, including approximately 40,564 square meters of mangrove habitat.
“The events described in the indictment occurred between 2023 and November 2024,” prosecutor Swastini said.
Prosecutors also cited documents from the Ministry of Environment estimating the environmental losses related to the case at Rp55.63 billion ($3.3 million).
The estimated cost of environmental restoration was put at Rp22.95 billion.
The figures are part of the prosecution’s allegations and remain subject to examination and evidence presented during the trial.
Teja faces two counts.
Under the first count, prosecutors accused him of negligence that allegedly resulted in violations of ambient air quality standards, water quality standards, marine water quality standards or environmental damage criteria.
The charge is based on Article 99 paragraph (1) of Law No. 32 of 2009 on Environmental Protection and Management, in conjunction with Law No. 1 of 2026 on Criminal Law Adjustments.
The second charge was filed under Article 41 paragraph (1) of Law No. 18 of 2008 on Waste Management, also in conjunction with Law No. 1 of 2026.
Following the reading of the indictment, the hearing proceeded with a response from Teja’s legal team.
The next stages of the proceedings will examine the prosecution’s allegations and the defense’s arguments before the court reaches a decision based on the evidence presented during the trial.
