Police Name 2 Suspects In Illegal Sand Mining Case In Garut

The police showed evidence and suspects in the illegal sand and stone mining case at the Garut Police Headquarters, West Java, Tuesday (13/6/2023). BETWEEN/Feri Purnama

The police have named two suspects in the illegal sand mining case in Banyuresmi District, Garut Regency, West Java. The police confiscated three units of heavy excavator equipment and 11 trucks as evidence.

"The two suspects were charged with the same sentence of five years," said Head of Unit 1 Subnit 2 of the Directorate of Certain Crimes at the National Police Criminal Investigation Unit AKBP Martua Silitonga as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, June 13.

Martua told his staff together with the West Java Regional Police and the Garut Resort Police to disclose cases of sand and stone mining in Banyuresmi, Garut, because the activity was not licensed.

The police have named two suspects with the initials NS and UJA who are administrators of mining activities at two crime scenes that have now been closed.

"The first TKP is a place to refine sand and stone, then the second crime scene is a location for sand and stone mining," said Martua accompanied by the Head of the Garut Police, Adjunct Senior Commissioner of Police, Rio Wahyu Anggoro.

In the disclosure of the case, there were 20 witnesses who were questioned, then three heavy excavators were confiscated and 11 trucks were used to transport sand, all of which were at the construction site of the Karyamukti area, Banyuresmi District.

Prior to the closure, the police had already given an appeal and warning to the sand and stone mining manager. In fact, a warning was given in 2019, but the mine is still operating.

The disclosure of the case began with a public report, then an investigation was carried out in May and June 2023 until the mining site was finally raided and closed.

The police are still investigating the illegal sand mining case in Garut Regency, which is suspected to still have other locations.

"We will develop it in the context of this case, but when there are reports from the public regarding other suspected illegal mining operations, we will also follow up," said Martua.

The police in handling the case apply Article 158 in conjunction with Article 35 and Article 161 of the Republic of Indonesia Law Number 3 of 2020 concerning Minerba, with the threat of imprisonment of five years and a fine of Rp. 100 billion.

The illegal mining case will then be handed over its handling to the Garut Police and will continue to be monitored by the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Police and the West Java Police.

"I am responsible for what we are doing and we will not mess around," said the Garut Police Chief.