No Pocket For Nickel Mining Permit In Southeast Sulawesi, Director Of This Company Threatened With 15 Years In Prison, IDR 10 Billion Fine

KLHK Director General of Law Enforcement Ratio Ridho Sani (second right) accompanied by the Head of the KLHK Law Enforcement Center for Sulawesi Region Dodi Kurniawan (Via Antara)

KENDARI - The Center for Security and Law Enforcement (Gakkum) of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry for the Sulawesi region has taken action against the nickel mine of PT James & Armando Pundimas (JAP) which is suspected to be illegal in North Konawe Regency, Southeast Sulawesi.

Head of Ministry of Environment and Forestry Law Enforcement Center of Sulawesi Region, Dodi Kurniawan, said Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) investigators had named the President Director of PT JAP with the initials RMY (27) as a suspect in the case. RMY has been proven to be mining in forest areas without a permit.

"Based on the results of the investigation team, PT JAP's nickel mining is illegal because it does not have a borrow-to-use forest area permit (IPPKH) and other permits by applicable laws and regulations", he said in Kendari, Antara, Thursday, March 10.

He said that the prosecution of this illegal nickel mine started with information from the public regarding the activities of nickel miners in forest areas without a permit in the North Konawe Regency, Southeast Sulawesi.

Based on this information, he continued, his party together with the Southeast Sulawesi Regional Police carried out an operation to save natural resources in Mandiodo, Andowia District, North Konawe Regency, Southeast Sulawesi.

Balai Gakkum secured evidence of three excavators and three dump trucks from suspected illegal nickel mining activities which are currently being deposited at the Class I Kendari State Confiscated Objects Storage House (Rupbasan).

"It was found that mining activities did not have a permit, and three units of heavy equipment with three dump trucks were found while carrying out mining activities", he explained.

The Director-General of Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Ratio Ridho Sani, who was present at the Kendari Rupbasan in the context of handing over suspects and evidence to the Southeast Sulawesi High Prosecutor's Office, said that the arrest and determination of suspects, as well as the thorough investigation of this case, showed evidence of the government's seriousness and commitment to upholding the law and taking action against criminals. illegal mining.

“Illegal mining actors like the suspect RMY are criminals. We will not stop taking action against criminals who gain personal gain on top of environmental damage, community suffering, and state losses", said Ratio.

The suspect was charged with Article 78 paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 50 paragraph (3) letter “a” of Law Number 41 of 1999 concerning Forestry as amended in Article 36 paragraph 19 Article 78 paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 36 Number 17 article 50 paragraph (2 ) letter “a” of Law Number 11 of 2020 concerning Job Creation and/or Article 89 paragraph (1) letters a, b and/or article 90 paragraph (1) in conjunction with article 17 paragraph (1) letters a, b, c Law Number 18 of 2013 concerning Prevention and Eradication of Forest Destruction as amended in Article 37 number 5 article 17 paragraph (1) letters a, b, c Law Number 11 of 2020 concerning Job Creation in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) to -1 of the Criminal Code.

"The RMY suspect is threatened with a maximum prison sentence of 15 years and a maximum fine of IDR 10 billion", he said.