Southeast Sulawesi Regional Police Hand Over 5 Illegal Mining Suspects To Prosecutors

The suspects were handed over to the prosecutor. (Antara/La Ode Muh Deden Saputra)

KENDARI - Sub-Director IV Tipidter Directorate of Special Criminal Investigation (Ditreskrimsus) Regional Police (Polda) Southeast Sulawesi (Southeast Sulawesi) handed over five suspected illegal miners and evidence to the Konawe District Attorney (Kejari).

Director of the Criminal Investigation Unit for the Southeast Sulawesi Regional Police Kombes Bambang Wijanarko through the Head of Sub Directorate IV Tipidter Kompol Ronald Arron Maramis said the five suspects each had the initials IS, RU, MA, SH, and CJ.

"Investigators from Sub-Director IV Tipidter Ditreskrimsus Polda Southeast Sulawesi have named the five people as suspects for illegal mining activities in forest areas," he said as reported by ANTARA, Monday, February 20.

Kompol Ronald explained that the three of them were charged with Article 89 Paragraph (1) letter A of the Law of the Republic of Indonesia No. 18 of 2013 concerning the Prevention and Eradication of Forest Destruction.

"Jo. Article 17 Paragraph (1) letter B, Article 37 paragraph 5 paragraph 4 Forestry Law of the Republic of Indonesia No. 11 of 2020 concerning Job Creation Jo. Article 55 Paragraph (1) 1st, Article 56 2nd Criminal Code, he said.

The police explained that the initial investigation was carried out when investigators from the Ditreskrimsus Polda Southeast Sulawesi found mining activities carried out by suspects IS, RU, and MA in Puuwonua Village, Andowia District, North Konawe Regency (Konut), Southeast Sulawesi.

"The mining activity was carried out using four units of excavator-type heavy equipment. Meanwhile, the results of the mining activity have reached 819 metric tons of nickel ore," he said.

Kompol Ronald Arron Maramis said that the illegal mining activities were financed by SH as the Main Director.

"SH is also the Director of PT CMI," he said.

After carrying out a series of investigations, on 6 February 2022, the case was declared complete by the Public Prosecutor (JPU).

"Monday, 20 February 2022, investigators handed over the suspect and evidence to the Konawe Prosecutor's Office for further legal proceedings, namely the trial at the Unaaha District Court," he said.