Head Of Energy And Human Resources Zainal Abidin Examined By The NTB Prosecutor's Office For Alleged Corruption In The Iron Sand Mine

NTB Prosecutor's Office Photo Archives. (ANTARA/Dhimas B.P.)

The West Nusa Tenggara High Prosecutor's Special Crime Investigators again examined the Kepal of the Energy and Mineral Resources Office of West Nusa Tenggara Province Zainal Abidin regarding the alleged corruption case of iron sand mining activities in the Dedalpak Block, East Lombok Regency. Spokesperson for the NTB Prosecutor's Office, Efrien Saputera, confirmed that Zainal Abidin's investigation was carried out by special criminal investigators. "Yes, ZA (Zainal Abidin) was re-examined as a witness," said Efrien in Mataram, Antara, Tuesday, March 7. He said that investigators re-examined the Head of the NTB ESDM Office to obtain additional information. Regarding the examination material, Efrien refused to provide information because it was included in the technical investigation. "What is clear is that there has been no determination of the suspect. For ZA (Zainal Abidin) only asked for additional information," he said. Regarding the examination that was revealed last Monday, Zainal Abidin, who was confirmed via WhatsApp instant messages, was reluctant to comment. Likewise regarding the role of the company holding mining permits in the Dedalpak Block, namely PT Anugerah Mitra Graha (AMG), Zainal was reluctant to comment. "I can't comment yet," he said briefly via WhatsApp message. Investigators in this case previously examined Zainal Abidin as Head of the NTB ESDM Service on February 3, 2023. Just like the previous Monday's examination, Zainal was reluctant to comment. The special criminal investigator handled this case based on an order from the Head of the NTB Prosecutor's Office Number: Print-01/N.2/Fd.1/01/2023, on January 18, 2023. In this case, it was revealed that PT AMG from North Jakarta as the company that carried out the mining of iron sand in the Dedalpak Block, East Lombok Regency. The company carries out business activities in accordance with the Decree of the Regent of East Lombok Number: 2821/503/PPT.II/2011 concerning Approval to Improve Mining Business Permits (IUP) Exploration to IUP for Production of Iron Sand and Mineral Followers in Dedalpak Block, Pringgabaya District and Labuhan Haji District, East Lombok Regency. The decree number: 2821/503/PPT.II/2011 was issued when M. Sukiman Azmy served as Regent of East Lombok for the period 2008-2013. In a letter statement, the Regent of East Lombok issued a decision to increase the IUP Exploration into an Operation for the Production of Iron Sand and Mineral Equipment Materials in the Dedalpak Block for PT AMG on an area of 1,348 hectares based on a request from the main director of PT AMG. The East Lombok Regent in the decree approved the increase in the IUP for PT AMG based on the evaluation results stating that exploration activities had met the requirements. The decree is valid from 15 years to 2026 with the recommendation of an extension of two terms. One period for a period of 10 years. On the basis of the decree, PT AMG conducts mining activities and processing processes using a magnetic separation system, namely the process of separating valuable minerals with motorized minerals with the principle of magnetic attractiveness. In addition to PT AMG, PT Varia Usaha Beton (VUB) emerged which also carried out stone crusher processing in North Pringgabaya Village, Pringgabaya District. PT VUB carried out its business activities on the land with the capital of the Special Mining Business Permit (IUPK) for Processing. Then in 2014, a decree emerged for the relocation of PT AMG mines in Anggaraksa Village, Pringgabaya District, and Korleko Village, Labuhan Haji District, to Ijobalit Village and Suryawangi Village in Labuhan Haji District. The decree was issued when M. Ali Bin Dachlan served as Regent of East Lombok for the 2013-2018 period. According to Ali Bin Dachlan's claim, he issued a relocation decree referring to the Decree of the East Lombok Regent for PT AMG in 2011. Because in the 2011 Decree it has been regulated regarding regional reserves. PT AMG also proposed relocation because in the Anggaraksa and Korleko areas there was no iron sand found. However, Ali Bin Dachlan said that since the relocation decree was issued in 2014, PT AMG has never carried out mining of iron sand in the two new locations because it received rejection from the public. The government has followed up on the rejection of mining activities from the community by revoking the relocation decree. The relocation decree was revoked by the NTB Provincial Government in 2018, as the authority holder regarding licensing. In 2021, it was revealed that the NTB Energy and Mineral Resources Service (ESDM) carried out monitoring and evaluation activities on the mining permit of PT AMG and PT VUB. The results of monitoring and evaluation stated that the two companies no longer had permits. The permit relates to the obligation of the company to carry out mining activities to make work plans and budget documents (RKAB). According to government regulations, RKAB documents must be made by mining companies within a one-year period and submitted for approval by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM). There are allegations, PT AMG continues to carry out mining in the Dedalpak Block without obtaining a permit for not reporting the annual RKAB to the government. This also makes the government disadvantaged because there are royalties that the company should deposit annually to the granters of permits, in this case the government.