NEGARA

A Jembrana man has been arrested for growing coffee in protected forest near Pulukan in the Pekutatan district. He was caught red-handed by a policeman who found him and his 250-square-metre patch of plants.

Police said I Ketut Muliada, 52, told them he was growing the coffee, along with cocoa, bananas and cassava, for sale and that he had been cultivating the hidden patch for two months.

He told police he had bought the land for Rp1.5 million (US$167) from a friend who had moved to Sulawesi as a transmigrant.

He was caught after police began forest patrols following an order from Jembrana regent Winasa banning access to protected forest.

Muliada could face up to 10 years in jail under the Protection of Forests Law.