East Java Prosecutor Finds Evidence of Money Flow from Coal Mining Permits from the Energy and Mineral Resources Agency

SURABAYA - The East Java High Prosecutor's Office (Kejati Jatim) has found records of the distribution of illegal levies (pungli) licensing fees that occurred in the environment of the local provincial Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Service.

"The results of the activity (the second search at the ESDM Office) the investigators managed to secure evidence in the form of files and financial distribution records (the results of extortion)," said the Special Criminal Assistant for the East Java Attorney General's Office, Wagiyo in Surabaya, Thursday, April 23, reported by ANTARRA.

Wagiyo explained that his party found a flow of money for mining permits that was routinely distributed to all mining staff, including the Chairman of the Licensing Team Working Group.

A total of around 19 people received a share of the OS suspect as Head of Mining on the instructions of the suspect AM as Head of the East Java ESDM Office.

The distribution of the money is carried out regularly every month for a period of 2 years with varying amounts ranging from IDR 750 thousand to IDR 2.5 million.

"The amount depends on the status of the employee, the department, the length of service, and the workload," he said.

In addition, electronic evidence was also secured from several people who according to investigators are key witnesses, then several documents, namely application files that are deliberately separated/stored/held.

In addition, there is also a written disposition of the leadership which is an invalid order obtained from the ESDM Head Office and the Head of Mining.

He continued, in the search activity, investigators also found legal facts.

Meanwhile, investigators from the East Java Attorney General's Office again carried out a search at the East Java ESDM Office on Monday (20/4) which lasted about six hours starting from 14.30 WIB until 20.00 WIB.

Previously, investigators had named three suspects, namely the Head of the East Java ESDM Office, the Head of the Mining Division, and an official with the initials H who served as the Head of the Water Management Working Group.

The investigation process is still ongoing, especially after the three suspects were officially detained.