2 ASN Ministry Of Energy And Mineral Resources Targeted By KPK Regarding Mining Licensing In North Maluku

Illustration of heavy equipment in mining management (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is investigating the granting of mining permits from two state civil servants (ASN) at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. They are Cecep Mochammad Yasin who is the Coordinator of the Management of the Minerba Region of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Development Directorate and the Analysis of the Mining Area of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Luthfan Harisan Jihadi.

"The examination was carried out at the KPK's Red and White Building," said KPK spokesman Tessa Mahardika to reporters, Friday, August 2.

Tessa said the two were asked to explain regarding the processing of mining permits in North Maluku. This information is needed to investigate allegations of corruption and money laundering (TPPU) that ensnared former North Maluku Governor Abdul Gani Kasuba.

"For CMY and LHJ investigators are investigating mining permits in North Maluku," he said.

Actually, the anti-corruption commission also scheduled the examination of another witness, Erni Yuniati, who is a BUMN employee. However, he was not present and asked to reschedule.

Previously reported, Deputy Chairperson of the KPK, Nurul Ghufron, suspected that there was a party at the Directorate General of Mineral and Coal at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources who played related to the processing of mining business permits. It is suspected that there had been a gift from Muhaimin Syarif who was the former chairman of the North Maluku Gerindra DPD as well as a confidant of the former Governor of North Maluku Abdul Gani Kasuba.

"So the search at ESDM is related to the bribe giver in the AGK case," said Ghufron to reporters at the KPK's Red and White Building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Thursday, July 24.

"The bribe giver to AGK brother turned out to be also suspected of giving to parties at ESDM in this regard. So it's not to other parties," continued Ghufron.

In this case, the anti-corruption commission has also searched the office of the Directorate General of Mineral and Coal of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. From this forced effort, documents and electronic evidence were found allegedly related to the arrangement of mining management which allegedly involved Abdul Gani Kasuba and Muhaimin Syarif.

The anti-corruption commission named the inactive North Maluku Governor Abdul Gani Kasuba as a suspect in the alleged crime of money laundering (TPPU). From several pieces of evidence obtained, he is suspected of laundering up to Rp100 billion.

The determination of this suspect was carried out as the development of the alleged bribery of goods and services procurement projects as well as the granting of permits within the North Maluku Provincial Government. He has been detained along with five other suspects since December 20 after being caught in a hand arrest operation (OTT).

In addition, the KPK also detained the former chairman of the North Maluku Gerindra Party (Malut) DPD Muhaimin Syarif alias Ucu on Wednesday, July 17. He is suspected of bribing former North Maluku Governor Abdul Gani Kasuba in the amount of Rp 7 billion for obtaining permits and projects within the North Maluku Provincial Government.

The bribe was given directly to Abdul Gani or through an aide. Giving is also done through banking transactions.