Suspect Of Sand Mining Corruption In NTB Admits Carry Out Superior Order

Prosecutor's Office officers guarding the suspect in the alleged corruption case of the Iron Sand mine Block Dedalpak which acts as the Head of PT AMG Branch with the initials RA

The suspect in the alleged corruption case of an iron sand mine with the initials RA admitted that he was the Head of the Branch of PT Anugrah Mitra Graha (AMG), East Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara, only carrying out orders from superiors to carry out mining activities in the Dedalpak Block. "Above me, there is a director, so I am only carrying out orders from superiors," said RA after undergoing an examination by a special criminal investigator at the NTB High Prosecutor's Office (Kejati) Building, Mataram, Antara, Monday, April 3. He also conveyed this even though he knew that mining activities were running illegally without holding documents for the approval of the work plan and budget (RKAB) from the Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. The suspect RA confirmed that the RKAB document that had not received the approval took place during the mining activity period from 2021 to 2022. "Indeed, at that time (RKAB) it was still being evaluated," he said. He also confirmed that the director who gave the order to continue carrying out mining activities without pocketing the RKAB from the Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources was headquartered in North Jakarta. "Yes, that's more or less," he said. The spokesperson for the NTB Prosecutor's Office, Efrien Saputera, also confirmed the investigation of suspect RA before this special criminal investigator. "Yes, the suspect RA investigators conducted additional examinations. The examination began at 09.30 WITA," said Efrien. For another suspect with the initials ZA who is a former Head of the NTB ESDM Service, he assured that investigators had conducted an examination last week at the Class IIA Mataram Correctional Institution (Lapas). "The investigation of suspect ZA was carried out by investigators at the Mataram Prison last week so that the situation remains conducive," he said. Investigators named ZA and RA as suspects by applying Article 2 paragraph (1) and/or Article 3 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law no. 20 of 2001 in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) of the 1st Criminal Code. Investigators named both of them as suspects based on the results of the case title which found indications of abuse of authority in the iron sand mining activities by PT AMG in the Dedalpak Block. After the determination, investigators made arrests by entrusting the two suspects at the State Detention Center (Rutan) at the Mataram Class IIA Correctional Institution (Lapas). Assistant for Special Crimes (Aspidsus) of the NTB Prosecutor's Office, Ely Rahmawati, in a previous statement confirmed that the investigation of this case had not been completed until the determination and detention of the two suspects. Currently, he said, there are still a series of activities to strengthen evidence, both from witness statements, the two suspects, and state losses from the NTB Representative Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP). Dengan agenda demikian, Ely menyebutkan adanya potensi penetapan tersangka baru dari kasus yang berjalan di tahap penyidikan sejak 18 Januari 2023 sesuai dengan surat perintah dari Kepala Kejati NTB nomor: Print-01/N.2/Fd.1/01/2023. In this case, PT AMG was revealed to have the legality of an iron sand mining permit on an area of 1,348 hectares. The permit is valid for 15 years from 2011 to 2026. The permit was issued based on the Decree of the Regent of East Lombok Number: 2821/503/PPT.II/2011 concerning Approval to Improve Mining Business Permits (IUP) Exploration to IUP for Production of Iron Sand and Mineral Followers in the Dedalpak Block which is included in the Pringgabaya District and Labuhan Haji District, East Lombok Regency.