Jakarta. Indonesian police are investigating possible links between foreign investors and companies suspected of involvement in forest and land fires, National Police Chief Suyudi Ario Seto said Monday, as authorities intensify efforts to identify those responsible for the blazes.

Suyudi said police were examining 98 cases involving suspected corporate links to forest and land fires, including whether any of the companies had received investment from neighboring countries.

"Of the 98 corporate-related cases we are examining, there are indications of possible foreign involvement. As part of the investigation, we are distinguishing between cases involving foreign investment and those that do not," Suyudi told reporters after attending a meeting on wildfire response with President Prabowo Subianto at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta.

He declined to identify the companies under investigation or the countries where their investors were based, but confirmed that the suspected foreign investment links involved neighboring countries.

Suyudi stressed that the investigations were ongoing, with police still gathering evidence and seeking to establish which parties, if any, could be held criminally responsible.

He said both individuals and companies could face criminal charges if investigators obtained sufficient evidence of wrongdoing.

"Investigators are still collecting evidence, and we will certainly name suspects in the near future," he said.

The police chief did not specify how many of the 98 cases involved companies with foreign investment or whether investigators had uncovered evidence directly linking foreign investors to the fires.

The meeting was also attended by Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Dudung Abdurrachman, Presidential Chief of Staff Listyo Sigit Prabowo, and Indonesian Military Commander Gen. Agus Subiyanto.

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