The High Prosecutor\u2019s Office (Kejati) of East Java has officially\ndesignated three officials from the Energy and Mineral Resources Office\n(Dinas ESDM) of East Java Province as suspects in a case of alleged\nillegal levies (pungli) on permitting. In this case, investigators\nseized evidence in the form of cash and bank account balances totalling\nRp2.3 billion.<\/p>\n
The three suspects are the Head of the East Java ESDM Office, Aris\nMukiyono, the Head of the Mining Division, Ony Setiawan, and the Chair\nof the Groundwater Exploitation Working Team, initialled H. All three\nhave been immediately detained for investigative purposes.<\/p>\n
Assistant Public Prosecutor (Aspidsus) of Kejati East Java, Wagiyo,\nstated that the designation of suspects resulted from a marathon\ninvestigation conducted quietly by the Kejati East Java team.<\/p>\n
\u201cQuietly, we conducted the investigation. Yes, silently we carried\nout the investigation. Since 14 April 2026, we have been investigating\nbased on public complaints from permit applicants. We proceeded after\nidentifying a criminal incident and obtaining initial evidence of\nsuspected corruption in the permitting process at the East Java\nProvincial Energy and Mineral Resources Office,\u201d said Wagiyo at the\nKejati East Java office on Friday (17\/4).<\/p>\n
Wagiyo also revealed the modus operandi and sly tactics employed by\nthe suspects. He noted that the permitting system should be handled\nonline through the Online Single Submission (OSS). However, the suspects\nat the East Java ESDM Office allegedly deliberately delayed\nadministrative processes to provoke payments from applicants.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe modus operandi involved delaying the permitting process. So, if\nthe person doesn\u2019t ask for help or give money, the permit doesn\u2019t come\nout. Even if the requirements are met. Imagine that. And there are many\nreports like this,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Wagiyo then detailed the extortion rates set by the suspects. For the\nextension of mining permits, applicants were asked to provide between\nRp50 million and Rp100 million. Meanwhile, for new mining permit\napplications, the amount soared to Rp200 million.<\/p>\n
For groundwater exploitation permit (SIPA) applications, the levies\nvaried between Rp5 million and Rp20 million per document, but the total\naccumulation per permit could reach Rp80 million.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were asked for between Rp50 million and Rp200 million. Yes,\nthat\u2019s it. Then for groundwater, it\u2019s similar but smaller amounts. For\nSIPA applications, the levies vary from Rp5 million to Rp20 million. The\ntotal for each SIPA permit can be estimated at Rp50 million up to Rp80\nmillion,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
In fact, Wagiyo stated, all permitting services at the East Java ESDM\nOffice should not incur fees by default. The practice of distributing\nthe proceeds from these levies among the suspects was described as a\nserious violation of applicable regulations.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe proceeds from these levies, which are not provided for by law,\nwere divided by the working team chair to the department head. The\nservices should be free, except for taxes and other fees listed in the\nPNBP (Non-Tax State Revenue) qualifications,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Based on search results at the office and homes of the suspects, the\nKejati East Java Pidana Khusus team secured assets in the form of cash\nand balances in various ATMs. From ESDM Head Aris Mukiyono,\ninvestigators seized a total of Rp494 million.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe secured evidence of money from suspect Aris Mukiyono: cash\nRp259,100,000, BCA account Rp109,039,809.49, Mandiri account\nRp126,864,331, totalling Rp494,414,140.49,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
From suspect Ony Setiawan, cash of Rp1,644,550,000 was secured, and\nfrom suspect H, a BCA account of Rp229,685,625, with the overall total\nseized money evidence reaching Rp2,369,239,765.49.<\/p>\n
Kejati East Java is charging the suspects under Article 12 letter e\nor Article 12 letter b of the Corruption Eradication Law, as well as\nArticle 606 of the new Criminal Code regarding extortion and\ngratification.<\/p>\n
Wagiyo emphasised that the possibility of new suspects is not ruled\nout in the development of this case, including deeper probes into\npotential Money Laundering Offences (TPPU).<\/p>\n
The Kejati side has also ensured coordination with the Financial\nTransaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) to trace where and to\nwhom the illicit funds flowed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis does not rule out the possibility of new suspects. Therefore,\non this occasion, we urge the public, especially investors and those\napplying for permits who face difficulties or delays despite meeting\nrequirements, to file complaints with us,\u201d he said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/east-java-esdm-head-suspected-of-extortion-in-permitting-rp2-3-billion-seized-1776408652", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }