Incomplete, The Prosecutor's Office Returns Files Of 2 Chinese Foreigners Involved In Mining To The Central Sulawesi Regional Police

SULTENG - The High Prosecutor's Office (Kejati) of Central Sulawesi Province (Sulteng) returned the investigation files of two foreign nationals (WNA) from China who were involved in a mining crime case in Palu City.

"The investigation file has been returned to investigators from the Central Sulawesi Regional Police," said Head of the Legal Information Section of the Central Sulawesi Prosecutor's Office, La Ode Abdul Sofian, when contacted in Palu, Monday, September 9, as reported by Antara.

However, Sofian did not specify when the file would be returned to the Central Sulawesi Regional Police investigators. However, the return of the file was carried out, because it was deemed ineligible to be upgraded to the prosecution stage.

Meanwhile, investigators from the Dirkrimsus Polda Central Sulawesi some time ago promised to convey the progress of the case, through the Public Relations of the Central Sulawesi Police.

"We have not received any information regarding the progress of the case," said Head of the Central Sulawesi Regional Police Public Information Sub-Directorate AKBP Sugeng Lestari.

Previously, the Director of Criminal Investigation of the Central Sulawesi Police named two foreigners, as suspects for alleged illegal mining in the Palu City area on June 4, 2024.

Dirreskrimsus Polda Central Sulawesi Kombes Pol Bagus Setiyawa said that the two Chinese foreigners who were named as suspects entered Indonesia on a visit visa. However, they carried out mining activities with an immersion system, in the concession permit area of PT Citra Palu Mineral (CPM).

"The perpetrators of the initials LJ (62) are Chinese citizens, technical work and the initials ZX (62), Chinese nationals, laboratory technician work, both with addresses from Hunan, China," he said.

The police confiscated three units of excavator heavy equipment, 20 plastic barrels, 4 units of alcon machine, three stems of paralon pipe, a set of sample test kits, two jerry cans with a capacity of 30 liters containing 32 percent acid hydraulic chemicals and 32 percent hydrogen peroxide.

Bagus also said that the perpetrators were suspected of committing criminal acts of mining without a permit (pet), namely everyone who accommodates, utilizes, processes and/or refines, development and/or utilization, transportation, mineral and/or coal sales that did not come from IUP holders, IUPK, IPR, SIPB or permits in the form of stone/pasir materials containing gold.

The actions of the two suspects resulted in state losses from mining activities without a permit with a nominal value of approximately Rp. 11 billion. The suspect was charged with Articles 158 and 161 of Law of the Republic of Indonesia number 3 of 2020 concerning amendments to Law of the Republic of Indonesia Momor 4 of 2009 concerning mineral and coal mining, with a maximum imprisonment of five years and a maximum fine of Rp. 100 billion.