KONTAN.CO.ID - JAKARTA. On Friday, April 26, 2024, the Attorney General's Office (AGO) summoned 14 witnesses in connection with an alleged corruption case involving the tin commodity trade in the mining business area of PT Timah Tbk from 2015 to 2022.

The Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes, Kuntadi, explained that of the 14 witnesses summoned, one failed to respond, leaving an additional 13 witnesses. This brings the total number of witnesses examined in this case to 158.

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"Based on the results of the investigation and the evidence found, the Investigation Team has elevated the status of 5 witnesses to suspects, bringing the total number of suspects to 21, including those involved in obstruction of justice," Kuntadi said at a press conference on Friday evening.

The five suspects include HL, the Beneficiary Owner of PT TIN, FL, the Marketing Manager of PT TIN, and SW, the Head of the Energy and Mineral Resources Department (ESDM) of the Bangka Belitung Islands Province from 2015 to 2019.

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Additionally, BN, the acting Head of the ESDM of the Bangka Belitung Islands Province since 2019, and AS, the acting Head of the ESDM of the Bangka Belitung Islands Province from 2020 to 2021, and currently the definitive head, are also suspects.

The case revolves around SW, who as the Head of the ESDM of the Bangka Belitung Islands Province in 2015, issued an illegal Work Plan and Budget Agreement (RKAB) to five tin refining and processing companies because the RKAB did not meet the requirements. The companies involved are PT RBT, PT SBS, PT SIP, PT TIN, and CV VIP, all located in Bangka Belitung.

The issuance of the RKAB was continued by BN when he served as the acting Head of the ESDM of the Bangka Belitung Islands Province in 2019, and by AS, who has held the same position since 2019 and continues to do so.

SW, BN, and AS knew that the RKAB was not used for mining at the smelter company's own IUP location, but rather to legalize the sale of tin obtained illegally from PT Timah Tbk's IUP.

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Furthermore, this illegal activity was approved and covered up by suspects MRPT and EE with a false agreement of a lease for tin smelting processing equipment, under the pretext of meeting the needs of PT Timah Tbk.

Meanwhile, HL, as the Beneficiary Owner, and FL, as the Marketing Manager of PT TIN, were involved in the lease agreement for tin smelting processing equipment with PT Timah Tbk. They also established CV BPR and CV SMS as dummy companies to carry out their illegal activities.

The charges against the five suspects are based on Article 2 Paragraph (1) and Article 3 in conjunction with Article 18 of Law No. 31 of 1999 as amended and supplemented by Law No. 20 of 2001 in conjunction with Law No. 31 of 1999 on Amendments to Law No. 31 of 1999 on Eradication of Corruption Crimes in conjunction with Article 55 Paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code.

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For the investigation, the Investigation Team detained three suspects, namely FL, who was detained at the Salemba State Detention House Branch of the Attorney General's Office, and AS, who was detained at the Salemba Central Jakarta State Detention House for the next 20 days.

However, BN was not detained due to health reasons, as determined by a medical examination.

In addition, the Investigation Team continues to pursue the assets of the suspects in an effort to optimize the recovery of state financial losses, securing several luxury vehicles among other assets.

Furthermore, the Asset Recovery Agency is examining many other economically valuable items.

Editor: Syamsul Azhar