Businessman Sentenced to 12 Years for Multimillion Dollar Tin Corruption Scheme
A businessman named Harvey Moeis has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for his role in a complex tin corruption scheme that resulted in massive financial losses to the state.
In a major corruption bust, prosecutors alleged that Moeis, representing PT Refined Bangka Tin, conspired with others to refine tin illegally extracted from PT Timah‘s mining areas. PT Timah is a state-owned enterprise, and the theft of its resources caused substantial damage to the public good.
Moeis is accused of seeking a portion of the profits generated from the illicitly mined tin, ostensibly earmarked for corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds, but ultimately enriching himself. The prosecutor detailed how Moeis profited handsomely from this scheme, amassing IDR 210 billion.
The court heard that Moeis’ actions caused an estimated IDR 300 trillion in losses to the Indonesian government. This staggering sum was cited as an aggravating factor in his sentencing.
Prosecutors further accused Moeis of engaging in money laundering, funneling illicit funds to his wife, actress Sandra Dewi, and her assistant, Ratih Purnamasari. Records showed that Ratih’s account was used for Dewi and Moeis’ daily expenses. The prosecutor presented evidence of lavish purchases, 88 branded bags, 141 pieces of jewelry for Dewi, as well as properties, buildings, a luxury home in Melbourne, Australia, and an impressive collection of luxury cars including a MINI Cooper, Porsche, Lexus, and Rolls-Royce.
In total, prosecutors contended that Moeis and Helena Lim, a wealthy businesswoman from the exclusive Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK) neighborhood of Jakarta, reaped IDR 420 billion from this criminal enterprise.
While acknowledging Moeis’ lack of prior convictions as a mitigating factor, the court ultimately weighed the gravity of his crimes more heavily.
The complex case has shone a light on corruption within the mining sector and raised questions about the accountability of corporations and individuals involved in the industry.
Video footage documenting the case proceedings is available online.
The subject of the provided text is the recent tin mine corruption scandal in Indonesia.
## From Illegal Mines to Prison: Examining Indonesia’s Tin Corruption Scandal
**[Host:]** Welcome back to the program. Today we’re diving into a recent high-profile corruption case that has rocked Indonesia’s tin industry. Joining us to shed light on this scandal is legal expert and investigative journalist, Alex Reed. Welcome to the show.
**[Alex Reed:]** Thank you for having me.
**[Host:]** Let’s get right into it. Harvey Moeis, a businessman involved with PT Refined Bangka Tin, has just been sentenced to 12 years in prison for his role in a massive tin corruption scheme. Can you walk us through the details of this case?
**[Alex Reed:]** Certainly. This case involves the illegal extraction and refinement of tin, a valuable commodity, from areas controlled by the state-owned mining company PT Timah. Moeis and his associates are accused of conspiring to bypass legal channels, essentially stealing tin and costing the Indonesian government significant sums in lost revenue.
**[Host:]** This sounds incredibly serious. What makes this case particularly notable?
**[Alex Reed:]** Several factors make this case stand out. Firstly, the sheer scale of the financial losses involved is staggering. Prosecutors have depicted this as a multimillion-dollar scheme, highlighting the devastating impact on Indonesia’s economy. Secondly, the conviction of Moeis sends a strong message that the government is committed to cracking down on corruption, even at high levels.
**[Host:]** We’ve also seen news recently about another arrest related to tin corruption involving a suspect named Hendry Lie. Is there any connection between these two cases?”
**[Alex Reed:]** It’s still too early to definitively say if there are direct links between the two cases. However, both involve alleged illegal activities within the tin industry, suggesting a potentially wider pattern of corruption that needs to be thoroughly investigated. The arrest of Hendry Lie [[1](https://en.tempo.co/read/1942825/ago-arrests-tin-corruption-suspect-hendry-lie-upon-arrival-from-singapore)]upon arrival from Singapore certainly raises eyebrows and suggests possible international connections in this illicit trade.
**[Host:]** This is a developing story. Thank you for providing your insights, Alex Reed. We’ll continue to follow these cases closely.
**[Alex Reed:]** My pleasure.
