West Kalimantan Police Reveals 23 Illegal Gold Mining Cases And Arrests 75 Suspects

West Kalimantan Police press conference reveals PETI network with 75 suspects/Photo: Antara

PONTIANAK - The West Kalimantan Regional Police revealed a gold mining network without a permit (PETI) from January to June 2022 with 68.9 kilograms of evidence and arrested 75 suspects from 23 cases. They are detained at the West Kalimantan Regional Police and 39 people are detained at the ranks of the West Kalimantan Police," said West Kalimantan Police Chief Inspector General (Pol) Suryanbodo Asmoro during the disclosure of the case in Pontianak, Wednesday, July 13. Miners, reservoirs, transporters, processors and financiers or intellectual actors from PETI. As many as 23 cases, one case from January 2022 was revealed, four cases in February, five cases in March, three cases in April, five cases in May and five cases in June. The crime scene (TKP) is in Ketapang, Sambas, Sekadau, Sintang, Sanggau, Melawi, Landak, Bengkayang, Kapuas Hulu regencies. The total gold evidence that was confiscated was 68.9 kilograms or Rp. 66.6 billion. Then 19.6 kilograms of silver nuggets worth IDR 470 million, as many as 11 excavators and various other equipment for mining activities without a permit. then sold to collectors both in Pontianak and in Jakarta," he said.

The suspects were threatened in three clusters, specifically the miners who violated Article 17 (1) and Articles 89 and 91 of Law no. 18 of 2013 concerning Prevention and Eradication of Forest Destruction with the threat of imprisonment for a minimum of three years and a maximum of 15 years, as well as a minimum fine of Rp. 1.5 billion and a maximum of Rp. 10 billion. 3 of 2020 concerning Amendments to Law No. 4 know. 2009 concerning Mineral and Coal Mining with the threat of a maximum imprisonment of five years and a maximum fine of Rp. 100 billion, he said. Mineral and Coal, with the threat of a maximum imprisonment of five years and a maximum fine of Rp. 100 billion, as well as Article 17 (1) of Law No. 18 of 2013 concerning the Prevention and Eradication of Forest Destruction with the threat of imprisonment for a minimum of three years and a maximum of 15 years, as well as a minimum fine IDR 1.5 billion and a maximum of IDR 10 billion," he said. On that occasion, the West Kalimantan Police Chief appealed to the public to report to law enforcement officials if they saw gold mining activity without a permit so that the law could be processed as soon as possible.