The Case Of Illegal Gold Mining For Foreign Citizens In Sekotong NTB Was Transferred To The Ministry Of Environment

JAKARTA - The Law Enforcement Center (Gakkum) of the Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut) Java, Bali, and Nusa Tenggara (Jabalnusra) has delegated cases of alleged illegal gold mining by foreign companies in the Sekotong area, West Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), to the Ministry of Environment (LH).

Investigators from Balai Gakkum Jabalnusra Mustaan said that his party transferred the case to KLH based on the results of the case title.

"So, this case is related to the Environmental Law, that's why we delegated it to the KLH. The handling is now there," he said in Mataram, Wednesday, which was confiscated by Antara.

In the delegation of cases, he said, the Ministry of Law and Human Rights' Gakkum also included the completeness of files on the results of requests for information from a number of parties, including mining workers and mining ring residents who were aware of illegal activities by these foreign companies.

In addition, there is also information from PT Indotan West Lombok Bangkit as the holder of a 10,080 hectare mining business permit (IUP), some of which are illegal mining areas for foreign companies.

According to him, the delegation of this case is a follow-up to the separation of the authority of the institution which was previously in one forum for the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK).

The Ministry of Environment and Forestry who handled this case with the support of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). The Ministry of Environment and Forestry in early October 2024 stated that the handling was by installing a warning sign on the illegal mining area of a foreign company in Sekotong.

This activity was also supported by the local government through the NTB Environment and Forestry Service (LHK).

Based on data from the NTB LHK Office, there are 25 illegal mining sites located in Sekotong with an area of 98.19 hectares.

The existence of the illegal mine is a leak of local revenue with a prediction value of up to Rp90 billion per month.