KLHK Snares Illegal Miners In East Belitung With Money Laundering Crimes

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) said it was investigating the alleged money laundering crime that occurred in the illegal tin mining case in Manggar District, East Belitung Regency, Bangka Belitung Province. Director General of Environmental and Forestry Law Enforcement of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Ratio Ridho Sani said his party had assigned the suspect status to TJC alias ABC who was 59 years old for acting as a financier or cukong in the illegal tin mining case.

"We are investigating the suspect's involvement in other criminal acts in the forestry sector because we have received a lot of information, as well as no money laundering crime," he said, quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, April 11. He stated that the illegal tin mining case provided financial benefits to the perpetrators for crimes that had harmed the state and damaged the environment and suffered the coastal population. According to him, the flow of profits is being investigated by law enforcement officials because the perpetrators have been running the business for a long time. "We are coordinating with PPATK to see the suspect's financial flow," he said.

"We have to do this step. We are coordinating intensively with PPATK regarding environmental and forestry crimes," he added. Furthermore, he said that illegal tin mining is a serious crime because it has damaged the environment and damaged mangrove areas. He emphasized that mangrove forests are a very important protected area not only for the lives of people, fishermen, or biodiversities but also for efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. "Mangroves have an important role to absorb carbon sinks that are bigger than other types of ecosystems," he said. KLHK filed a civil lawsuit worth Rp35 billion. The sanction has been paid by the sued company. "We don't just stop in environmental criminal cases, there must be a deterrent effect on the perpetrators. If they continue to commit crimes, then the environment will be damaged. Strict action is a form of prevention efforts in order to provide a deterrent effect for others," he said.

The Ministry of Environment and Forestry ensnared the suspect TJC alias ABC under Article 98 or Article 99 of Law Number 32 of 2009 concerning Environmental Protection and Management junto Article 55 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code for its intentional actions or for negligence in committing acts resulting in the neglect of ambient quality standards, water quality standards, sea water quality standards, or standard criteria for environmental damage.

The suspect faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of Rp. 10 billion. "The determination of the suspect against TJC alias ABC as the cukong of an illegal tin mine in East Manggar Belitung should be a lesson for other illegal tin miners," said Rasio Ridho Sani.