ILLEGAL coal mining perpetrators in the Teluk Adang Nature Reserve Area, Paser Regency, East Kalimantan Province were arrested by a joint team from the SPORC Operation Team, Enggang Brigade, Balai Gakkum LHK, Kalimantan Region, Section II Samarinda together with the East Kalimantan BKSDA. In the sting operation (OTT), the operation team secured three perpetrators, namely T (25) as a heavy equipment operator, F (25) as a mechanic and S (24) as security for the activity. In addition to the three perpetrators, the team also secured one unit excavator which were used by the perpetrators to make ditches and clean around the location to be mined, as well as three mobile phones belonging to the perpetrators which were used to communicate during mining activities.
Based on the results of the examination of witnesses and other evidence, the PPNS Balai Gakkum LHK Kalimantan has named T as a suspect and has been detained at the Samarinda Police Detention Center. The evidence is in the form of one unit excavator A yellow SANY brand and three mobile phones were confiscated.
The suspect was charged with Article 89 paragraph (1) letter b Jo Article 17 paragraph (1) letter a of the Republic of Indonesia Law Number 18 of 2013 concerning the Prevention and Eradication of Forest Destruction, as amended in Paragraph 4 Article 37 number 5 Article 17 Paragraph (1) letter a of the Republic of Indonesia Law Number 11 of 2020 concerning Job Creation and/or Article 78 paragraph (2) Jo Article 50 paragraph (3) letter a of the Republic of Indonesia Law Number 41 of 1999 concerning Forestry as amended in Paragraph 4 Article 36 number 19 Article 78 Paragraph (2) Jo. Article 36 number 17 Article 50 paragraph (2) letter a of the Republic of Indonesia Law Number 11 of 2020 concerning Job Creation Jo. Article 55 paragraph (1) with a penalty of up to 15 (fifteen) years in prison and a fine of up to 10 billion rupiah.
Head of the Kalimantan LHK Gakkum Center, David Muhammad, stated that this arrest began with information from the public regarding the presence of heavy equipment of the excavator type that was operating in the Teluk Adang Nature Reserve Conservation Forest Area.
“Based on this information, Balai Gakkum LHK Kalimantan conducted an in-depth investigation and conducted a Law Enforcement operation. When they arrived at the location, the team saw a yellow excavator unit, the Sany brand, operated by T accompanied by F, making a ditch and cleaning the location in the Teluk Adang Nature Reserve area, which activity is suspected to be a preparatory stage for a series of coal mining activities. Meanwhile, S was secured by the operations team while he was in a work hut about 100 (one hundred) meters from the location,” said David in an official statement, Saturday (31/8).
He appreciated all parties who supported and were proactive in preserving the conservation forest areas in Indonesia, especially the Teluk Adang Nature Reserve. The success of this operation is a joint effort between law enforcers and proof of the government’s commitment to preserving forests to ensure the sustainability of the lives of future generations. We hope that the perpetrators will be punished to the maximum so that it has a deterrent effect and is just.
“Gakkum KLHK will continue to consistently enforce the law and uncover organized LHK crime networks. I ask that investigators develop the networks, actors and financiers involved in this illegal coal mining activity,” said David. (S-1)
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