Three Former Head Of ESDM Babel Charged With Tin Corruption Claimed By The State Rugikan Prosecutor's Office Rp300 Trillion

Two defendants in the alleged corruption case in the management of tin commodity trading procedures, Suranto Wibowo (left) and Amir Syahbana (right) at the Corruption Court, Jakarta, Wednesday (31/7/2024). BETWEEN PHOTOS/Aprillio Akbar

JAKARTA - Three former Heads of the Department of Energy and Mineral Resources of Bangka Belitung Province were charged with corruption in the management of tin commodity trading in the mining permit area of PT Timah Tbk. In 2015, 2022, which prosecutors claimed was detrimental to state finances worth Rp. 300 trillion.

The three defendants were the Head of the ESDM Office of Bangka Belitung Province for the 2015 '2019 period, Suranto Wibowo, the Head of the ESDM Office of Bangka Belitung Province for the 2021'2024 period Amir Syahbana, and the Acting Head of Energy and Mineral Resources for the Province of Bangka Belitung for the period March to December 2019 Rusbani alias Bani.

Public Prosecutor Ardito Muwardi charged three defendants with enriching themselves, others, or a corporation or by abusing the authority, opportunity, or existing facilities because of their positions, which aim to benefit themselves, others, a corporation, so as to harm state finances.

The Public Prosecutor explained that when he served as Head of Energy and Mineral Resources of Bangka Belitung Province for the 2015 period, 2019, he agreed to the 2015-2019 Budget and Fee Work Plan (RKAB) whose contents were incorrect to the five smelter.

The five smelters in question, namely PT Refined Bangka Tin and its affiliated company, CV Venus Inti Perkasa and its affiliated company, PT Sariwiguna Binasentosa and its affiliated company, PT Stanindo Inti Perkasa and its affiliated company, and PT Tinindo Internusa and its affiliated company.

The RKAB, said the prosecutor, should have been used as a basis for mining in the IUP region of each of its smelters and affiliates, but RKAB was also used as legalization for the collection and management of lead ore resulting from illegal mining in the PT Timah IUP area.

In addition, Suranto is also considered unlawfully not to provide guidance and supervision of the five companys including its affiliated company, which carries out mining activities that are not in accordance with the RKAB which was approved in the 2015'2019 period.

The prosecutor said that this act resulted in the failure of good mining business governance so that it had an impact on environmental damage in the Province of the Bangka Belitung Islands.

"Because in reality the RKAB that has been approved is only a formality to accommodate the illegal collection and management of tin ore from the PT Timah IUP area," said the Public Prosecutor.

Not only that, the Public Prosecutor said, Suranto had also received facilities in the form of hotels and transportation from PT Stanindo Inti Perkasa.

Meanwhile, the Public Prosecutor said that Bani and Amir Syahbana were suspected of having neglected illegal mining activities in the PT Timah IUP area carried out by PT Refined Bangka Tin, PT Sarijuna Binasentosa, CV Venus Inti Perkasa, PT Stanindo Inti Perkasa, PT Tinindo Internusa, and PT Sarijuna Binasentosa.

The mining activities were not contained in the RKAB PT Timah or RKAB limasmelter along with its affiliated companies which resulted in environmental damage, both in forest areas and outside forest areas within the PT Timah IUP area, in the form of ecological losses, environmental economic losses, and environmental restoration.