Nickel Mine in Forest Spotlighted, PKH Task Force Calculates Fines for Company Owned by David Glen Oei

The Forest Area Regulation Task Force (Satgas PKH) sealed the operational area of PT Mineral Trobos in North Maluku Province. (ANTARA/Personal Documentation)

JAKARTA - The Forest Area Regulation Task Force (Satgas PKH) is calculating administrative fines against the nickel mining company PT Mineral Trobos which is suspected of carrying out illegal mining activities in forest areas in North Maluku Province.

The company is known to be owned by businessman David Glen Oei.

Previously, the PKH Task Force had sealed off the company's operational area and took back the forest area which was suspected to have been illegally occupied.

"The re-possession of forest land that has been illegally occupied by installing signs has been carried out. Furthermore, the administrative fines arising from this illegal possession will be calculated," said Barita Simanjuntak, spokesperson for the PKH Task Force, in a statement in Jakarta, Antara, Thursday, March 12.

Based on information circulating, PT Mineral Trobos was said to have been fined up to trillions of rupiah for alleged illegal mining in an area of hundreds of hectares. However, later the value of the fine was said to have shrunk to tens of billions of rupiah.

In response to this, Barita emphasized that the PKH Task Force had never officially conveyed the amount of administrative fines that would be imposed on the company.

"Official information is only issued by the media team and the task force spokesperson," he said.

He ensured that all handling processes were carried out objectively and in accordance with the work mechanisms that had been arranged.

According to him, the PKH Task Force will also periodically convey to the public the development related to the re-possession of forest areas, payment of fines, to the identity of the companies involved.

Meanwhile, former Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator Yudi Purnomo Harahap assessed that the PKH Task Force needed to coordinate with the KPK to follow up on the sealing of PT Mineral Trobos land.

This is because the KPK investigators had previously examined David Glen Oei regarding the alleged money laundering case that ensnared the former Governor of North Maluku Abdul Gani Kasuba in October 2024.

"It needs coordination with the KPK because sealing is the initial stage of the prosecution process, both for individuals and corporations," said Yudi.

He also reminded the PKH Task Force not to stop at sealing the land, but to complete the investigation to uncover the parties suspected of being involved in the illegal practice.

According to him, recovering state losses due to illegal mining must be a priority.

"The PKH Task Force must move quickly so that there is a deterrent effect and dismantle anyone involved in mining in the forest area," he said.

Meanwhile, when asked for a response regarding the sealing of the PT Mineral Trobos operational area, David Glen Oei said he was no longer handling the company.

"I have been retired for four years. Now I only take care of social, religious, and football," said David, who is also known as the owner of the Malut United football club.

For information, the PKH Task Force was formed through Presidential Regulation Number 5 of 2025 which was issued by President Prabowo Subianto.

The task force is tasked with conducting inspections and discipline of various natural resource-based business activities, including in the forestry, plantation, and mining sectors.