AGO Names Three Suspects in PT PMM Mining Corruption Case

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Attorney General’s Office has named three suspects in an alleged corruption case concerning the management of non-metallic mineral mining at PT Putraprima Mineral Mandiri (PMM) for the 2018-2026 period, following the discovery of suspected manipulation of rare earth element content for export purposes.

The Director of Investigation at the Attorney General’s Office for Special Crimes (Jampidsus), Syarief Sulaeman Nahdi, stated in Jakarta on Wednesday that the three suspects are IS, representing PT PMM; GP, the Head of the Pangkalpinang Service Unit of PT Sucofindo; and JK, the Head of the Pangkalpinang Customs and Excise Office.

“We are working in collaboration with the Forest Area Orderliness Task Force (PKH) and are following up on the task force’s findings. After a series of examinations, the investigative team has named three suspects,” he said.

Syarief explained that the suspects allegedly manipulated the rare earth element content in the export of ilmenite-type minerals. In reality, rare earth elements are commodities that are prohibited from being exported.

Meanwhile, JK is alleged to have continued issuing export documents despite knowing that the commodities exported by PT PMM contained rare earth elements.

“As a result of the actions of Mr GP, who accommodated the requests of IS, and the actions of Mr JK, PT PMM was able to illegally export approximately 390 tonnes of soil containing rare earth elements,” said Syarief.

The three suspects are facing charges under Articles 603 and/or 604 in conjunction with Article 20 of Law Number 1 of 2023 regarding the Criminal Code (KUHP).

Meanwhile, the Attorney General’s Office is still coordinating with the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP) to calculate the state financial losses and the losses to the national economy resulting from this case.