Mount Emas Sekotong And Shadow-shadow Corruption: NTB Prosecutor's Office Ready To Move

Residents mine materials that are suspected of containing gold in the Sekotong hills area, West Lombok, NTB, Wednesday (9/7/2025). BETWEEN PHOTOS/Dhimas Budi Pratama/sgd/wpa.

Head of the West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) High Prosecutor's Office, Wahyudi, stated that his party is ready to follow up on allegations of corruption related to illegal gold mining activities in the Sekotong hills area, West Lombok Regency.

"If there is a policy from the center, we at the NTB Prosecutor's Office are ready to implement it all," Wahyudi said in Mataram, Antara, Tuesday, November 4.

However, Wahyudi said that the information he received showed that the problem of illegal gold mining in Sekotong had become the attention of handling at the central level.

"The center has already handled it, it looks like it will lead to corruption. We at the NTB Prosecutor's Office have no direction yet," he said.

Previously, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) carried out coordination and supervision activities at the NTB Prosecutor's Office in early October 2024, after the installation of a warning sign with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) at the illegal gold mine site which was allegedly managed by workers from China.

Wahyudi emphasized that the discussion in the corsup activity was different from the alleged corruption that is now sticking out. "That's another area," he said.

Previously, it was reported that the KPK issued two investigation warrants (Sprinlid) numbered Sprin each. Lidik-13/Lidik-13/Lid.01.00/01/04/2025 dated 23 April 2025, and Sprin. Lidik-49/Lidik.01.00/01/10/2025 dated 2 October 2025.

KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo said his party was still checking the information.

"We'll check it first, because it's related to the investigation, most of it is still closed and cannot be published yet," Budi said by telephone.

He added that so far the KPK is still carrying out coordination and supervision functions related to gold mining activities in Sekotong.

"Our team has gone to the field to see the conditions, identify problems, and coordinate with stakeholders," he said.

Budi said the stakeholders came from local governments, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, as well as the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM). The goal is to ensure that mining activities run according to mining business permits (IUP).

Responding to public reports about the alleged corruption of illegal gold mines that also entered the NTB Prosecutor's Office, Budi could not provide further explanation.

"We have not been able to convey that matter. What we can be sure is that the KPK continues to monitor and monitor," he said.

From the results of the audit of the NTB Environment and Forestry Service, there are 25 illegal mining points in the Sekotong area with a total area of 98.19 hectares. One of the mining blocks suspected of operating on land owned by PT Indotan West Lombok Bangkit is said to produce turnover of up to Rp90 billion per month.