# Indonesia Haze: 9 Firms Named as Suspects

> Indonesia police name 9 firms as suspects in forest fire haze cases.
- Title: Indonesia Haze: 9 Firms Named as Suspects · The Rio Times
- Summary: Indonesia police name 9 firms as suspects in forest fire haze cases. Indonesian police have named nine companies and 223 individuals as formal suspects in…
- Keywords: indonesia, forest fires, palm oil, haze, police suspects, sumatra, kalimantan, singapore, malaysia, health impacts, respiratory infections, peatland
- Source: The Rio Times — https://riotimesonline.com/indonesia-forest-fires-palm-oil-haze-explained-2026
- Author: Lachlan Williams
- Published: 2026-10-20T21:24:35+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: indonesia, forest fires, palm oil, haze, police suspects, sumatra, kalimantan, singapore, malaysia, health impacts, respiratory infections, peatland
## Indonesia Haze Returns
Smoke from forest and peatland fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan drifts across Southeast Asia.
## 9 Companies Named as Suspects
Indonesian police identified nine companies and 223 individuals as formal suspects in fire cases as of 13 October 2026.
## Health Impact
Health Ministry counted 283,270 acute respiratory infections in seven provinces including 63,711 children under five.
## Who Identified the Companies
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Dudung Abdurachman said 97 companies were identified in fire cases.
## Why the Fires Return
Burning is the cheapest way to clear land, especially for smallholders and illegal operators far from roads.
## Peatland Makes Fires Worse
Drained peatland soil dries and can smoulder underground for weeks producing dense smoke.
## Weather Decides Haze Severity
Dry months with weak winds cause smoke to stay near towns and travel toward singapore and malaysia.
## Singapore's Legal Action
Singapore issued preventive notices to seven Indonesian companies under its Transboundary Haze Pollution Act.
## Palm Oil Supply Chain Link
Indonesia is the world's largest palm oil producer with supply chains mixing fruit from estates and smallholders.
## US Consumer Impact
US companies and shoppers buying packaged food, cosmetics and detergents may be exposed to palm oil from fire-linked land.
## Health Costs
Smoke carries fine particles called pm2.5 causing breathing problems and asthma flare-ups.
## What to Watch Next
Whether the nine corporate cases reach court and whether singapore widens legal notices.
## Key takeaway

Indonesian police have named nine companies and 223 individuals as formal suspects in forest fire haze cases.