DIGIVESTASI - A foreign national from China with the initials YH faces up to five years in prison for his involvement in illegal gold mining activities in Ketapang Regency, West Kalimantan. State losses due to YH's actions are estimated at Rp1.02 trillion, which is calculated based on the loss of gold reserves from the unlicensed mining.

Sunindyo Suryo Herdadi, Director of Engineering and Environment at the Directorate General of Minerals and Coal of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, explained that YH utilized mining pits that should have been used for maintenance in licensed mining areas. Instead, this hole was used for illegal mining.

“The results of these crimes are refined and sold in the form of ore or gold bullion,” Sunindyo said in a press conference quoted from CNBC Indonesia, Saturday (11/5).

YH was charged with violating Article 158 of Law Number 3 of 2020 concerning Mineral and Coal Mining, which carries a five-year prison sentence and a maximum fine of Rp100 billion. This case is also being developed into a criminal case based on other laws.

At the illegal mining site, various equipment were found such as picks, gold molds, gold filters, and heavy equipment such as electric lower loaders and dump trucks. The total length of the mining pit reached 1,648.3 meters with a volume of 4,467.2 cubic meters.

During the trial at the Ketapang District Court on August 28, 2024, it was revealed that YH managed to extract 774.27 kilograms of gold and 937.7 kilograms of silver from the illegal mining activity. Sample tests showed that the gold content at the location was very high, with gold content reaching 337 grams/ton in crushed rock.

The use of mercury or mercury (Hg) was also revealed in the trial, with Hg levels reaching 41.35 mg/kg, which is used to separate gold ore from other metals.

Investigations conducted by the Directorate General of Mineral and Coal's Civil Servant Investigators (PPNS) found that the volume of gold ore excavated reached 2,687.4 cubic meters, coming from the corridor between two gold companies that do not yet have production licenses for 2024-2026.

The trial will continue with several stages, including examination of witnesses, experts, reading of charges, memorandum of defense, and responses, until the reading of the final decision.

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