Jakarta – The South Kalimantan Police took action against two illegal coal mining locations in Tapin Regency and Tanah Laut Regency, respectively, by confiscating six units of excavators.
“Two suspected perpetrators have been arrested with the initials PN and SL,” said Head of Public Relations of the South Kalimantan Police, Kombes Pol. Mochamad Rifa’i in Banjarmasin, Thursday.
PN was arrested at an illegal mining site on Wednesday (31/8) in Pualam Sari Village, Binuang District, Tapin Regency. Meanwhile, SL was mining on Tuesday (6/9) in Pandansari Village, Kintap District, Tanah Laut Regency.
Rifa’i said that the perpetrators deliberately carried out mining without having a valid legality in the form of a production operation mining business license (IUP OP) and a mining service business license registration (IUJP).
The suspect was charged with Article 158 of RI Law No. 3 of 2020 concerning amendments to Law No. 4 of 2009 concerning Mineral and Coal Mining with a maximum imprisonment of five years and a maximum fine of Rp. 100 billion.
Meanwhile, the Director of Special Criminal Investigation at the South Kalimantan Police, Kombes Pol. Suhasto, has ordered the Head of Sub-Directorate IV for Tipidter, AKBP M. Ifan Hariyat, to continue investigating the illegal mining case.
“All those involved must be dealt with, including tracing who is the buyer of this illegally dredged coal,” said Ifan.
He also emphasized that illegal mining is very disturbing because in addition to destroying nature and causing state losses, it is also dangerous for the perpetrators themselves and also the surrounding community if landslides occur and so on.
