There are 2 foreigners, suspects of PETI Gunung Botak, 26 people.

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) through the Directorate General of Law Enforcement of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (Ditjen Gakkum ESDM) has resolutely taken action against individuals who are not responsible in the operation of Unauthorized Mining (PETI).

Currently, the Directorate General of Gakkum, together with the Indonesian National Police Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim Polri), has named 26 people as suspects in the case of alleged PETI criminal acts in the Gunung Botak area, Buru Regency, Maluku Province.

Director General of Law Enforcement of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Jeffri Huwae, emphasized that the suspects were suspected of playing a role in supporting PETI operational activities, such as the construction of operational mine access roads, the construction of storage ponds or processing facilities, the establishment of processing laboratories or gold refineries, processing activities and the construction of other supporting facilities.

"We also express our appreciation to the public who have reported PETI activities on Mount Botak so that we can follow up with the enforcement process," said Jeffri in a statement to the media, Friday, June 26.

Of the 26 suspects, 2 suspects are Indonesian citizens (WNI) and the other 24 suspects are Foreign Nationals (WNA). Currently, 1 WNI has been detained at the Bareskrim Polri Detention House, 1 WNI has not been detained, 12 WNA have been detained at the Ambon Detention Center, while 12 other WNA are outside the legal territory of Indonesia and have been designated as a Search for Persons List (DPO).

Jeffri added that the suspects were suspected of violating Article 158 of Law Number 3 of 2020 concerning Amendments to Law Number 4 of 2009 concerning Mineral and Coal Mining as last amended by Law Number 2 of 2025 concerning the Fourth Amendment to Law Number 4 of 2009 concerning Mineral and Coal Mining jo. Article 20 of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code jo. Law Number 1 of 2026 concerning Criminal Adjustment.

In the law enforcement process, the Civil Servant Investigation Team (PPNS) of the ESDM's Gakkum Directorate General, accompanied by the Coordination and Supervision Bureau (Korwas) of the PPNS Bareskrim Polri, has examined a number of witnesses and experts from various related elements, both from the Maluku Provincial Government, Immigration Class I TPI Ambon, and members of Kodam XV/Pattimura. The team has also sealed and seized evidence found in several locations, namely at Gunung Botak, Namlea City, Ambon, and Jakarta.

"The determination of the suspect was carried out after the investigators increased the status of the investigation on April 3, 2026 and obtained sufficient evidence based on the results of the investigation, the collection of evidence, and the title of the case which was carried out on May 22 and June 22, 2026," said Jeffri.

Furthermore, Jeffri emphasized that currently the PPNS Directorate General of Gakkum together with the PPNS Korwas is completing the case file so that it can be prosecuted by the Public Prosecutor. This investigation process will continue to be developed as long as there are new facts related to the case. In handling the case, the PPNS Gakkum ESDM investigator is independent and free from any influence in order to ensure accountability, legal certainty, and justice.

This law enforcement was also carried out to provide support for the pro-people program of the Governor of Maluku, who emphasized that the management of the Gunung Botak gold mine with the People's Mining Permit (IPR) pattern was directed towards the prosperity of the Maluku people.