Attorney General's Office Suspects Involvement of State Officials in Samin Tan Coal Mining Corruption Case

The Attorney General’s Office (Kejagung) is probing potential involvement of state officials in the alleged coal mining corruption case that has ensnared businessman Samin Tan. The investigation continues with ongoing calculations of state losses. Head of the Kejagung Legal Information Centre, Anang Supriatna, confirmed that the audit of state losses has not yet been completed. “It is still in the process of calculating the state losses (KN),” he told reporters on Monday, 30 March 2026. Kejagung is also targeting other parties suspected of involvement, including state officials. The deepening investigation is being conducted cautiously based on available evidence. “We will see the results of the deepening examination into the involvement of state officials and affiliated parties, of course based on evidence in accordance with regulations, while upholding the principles of caution and the presumption of innocence,” he stated. The case originated from the activities of PT Asmin Koalindo Tuhup (AKT) in Murung Raya Regency, Central Kalimantan. Although its mining permit was revoked in 2017, the company is alleged to have continued illegal operations until 2025. Director of Investigation for the Special Corruption Crimes Unit at Kejagung, Syarief Sulaeman Nahdi, revealed Samin Tan’s role as the beneficial owner controlling the company’s activities. According to him, the illegal mining practices did not stand alone. There are suspicions of collaboration with parties responsible for overseeing mining activities. “Suspect ST through PT AKT and its affiliates unlawfully continued mining and sales using invalid permit documents by collaborating with state officials tasked with supervising mining activities, thereby harming the state finances and/or economy,” Syarief explained. Currently, the audit team is still calculating the total state losses from these illegal activities. Samin Tan has been officially named a suspect and charged with multiple corruption offences. As an initial enforcement step, investigators have detained him. “ST is detained for the next 20 days at the Salemba Detention Centre Branch of the Attorney General’s Office,” he said. The case is certain to develop further. Kejagung is open to the possibility of new suspects, especially if the involvement of state officials is proven in the mining corruption vortex.