The Supreme Court of Indonesia (MA) has granted the cassation appeal filed by the Public Prosecutor (JPU) of the Pandeglang District Attorney’s Office (Kejari) in the case involving the illegal trade of Javan rhino horns, with the defendant being Liem Hoo Kwan, also known as Willy.
This Supreme Court ruling overturns the previous acquittal handed down by the Pandeglang District Court (PN). In its cassation decision, the MA sentenced Willy to one year in prison and imposed a fine of IDR 100 million, with a subsidiary penalty of three months’ imprisonment. Willy was convicted under Article 21, Paragraph (2), Letter d of Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning the Conservation of Natural Resources and Their Ecosystems.
The case began with the illegal sale of Javan rhino horns sourced from poaching activities in Ujung Kulon National Park (TNUK), the last remaining habitat of the Javan rhinoceros. Willy was arrested by officers from the Banten Regional Police after being strongly suspected of purchasing the poached rhino horn. However, in the initial trial at the Pandeglang District Court, Willy was acquitted due to a lack of sufficient evidence to support the charges.
In response to the acquittal, the Pandeglang Public Prosecutor filed a cassation appeal to the Supreme Court. During the cassation process, the prosecution successfully convinced the panel of Supreme Court judges that the evidence presented was sufficient to prove Willy’s involvement in the illegal wildlife trade.
Regarding the poaching of Javan rhinos in Ujung Kulon National Park, the Pandeglang District Court had previously, on June 5, 2024, found Sunendi guilty of Javan rhino poaching and sentenced him to 12 years in prison and a fine of IDR 100 million, with a subsidiary sentence of 2 months’ imprisonment.
Additionally, on February 12, 2025, the Pandeglang District Court convicted six other individuals—Sahru and his associates—for the same offense. Sahru received a 12-year prison sentence, while the other five were sentenced to 11 years each. All were fined IDR 100 million (with 3-month subsidiary imprisonment), and each was required to pay court fees of IDR 5,000.
Furthermore, on July 25, 2024, the Pandeglang District Court also sentenced Yogi Purwadi, who acted as a middleman in the sale of Javan rhino horns, to 4 years and 6 months in prison, along with a fine of IDR 100 million, or a subsidiary sentence of 3 months in prison.
Nanda Nababan, Coordinator of Advocates and Researchers on Wildlife Crime in Indonesia (APKSLI), welcomed the cassation verdict, calling it appropriate. He noted that the sale transaction would not have occurred without Willy’s active role.
Director General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation (KSDAE) at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Satyawan Pudyatmoko, expressed his appreciation to the Pandeglang Prosecutor’s Office for pursuing the cassation and to the Supreme Court for making the right decision.
According to Satyawan, this decision completes all the efforts that have been made to protect the Javan rhinoceros from every angle—whether from poachers, facilitators, or buyers both domestically and internationally. The Supreme Court’s ruling also sends a strong message that Indonesia’s legal system does not tolerate the illegal trade of endangered species parts.
Source: Kemenhut.Go.Id
