Banyumas Police Uncover Illegal Gold Mining Case in Gumelar
Purwokerto (ANTARA) - The Banyumas City Police (Polresta) have uncovered an illegal gold mining operation in Gumelar District, Banyumas Regency, Central Java, and designated three individuals as suspects in the case.
During a press conference at the Reconfu Hall of the Polresta Banyumas headquarters in Purwokerto, Banyumas Regency, on Monday, the Head of Polresta Banyumas, Commissioner General of Police Petrus P Silalahi, stated that the uncovering stemmed from a community report regarding mining and gold processing activities without permits in Grumbul Igir Salak, Paningkaban Village, Gumelar Subdistrict.
“Following up on the report, Unit IV of the Criminal Investigation Unit of Polresta Banyumas conducted an investigation, leading to a raid on Tuesday (31/3),” he said.
During the raid, he noted, the police secured three suspects with initials SRO alias BDI (51), NM alias AYG (50), and SBN alias UDN (56).
He explained that the three suspects acted as investors as well as owners of the illegal gold mining and processing business.
According to him, the suspects conducted activities without holding official permits such as Mining Business Permits (IUP), Special Mining Business Permits (IUPK), People’s Mining Permits (IPR), or Rock Mining Permits (SIPB) as regulated by applicable laws and regulations.
From the examination at the site, Petrus said, police officers found two mining points with excavation holes approximately 55 metres deep and mouth dimensions of about 80 centimetres by 80 centimetres, operated by several workers.
“Material is taken from inside the hole and then processed independently to separate the gold content,” he said.
Based on the investigation results, he added, one mining hole is estimated to produce around seven grams of gold per week, with an economic value of approximately Rp10 million.
According to him, the profit-sharing system has been arranged with a composition of 30 percent for investors, 30 percent for landowners, 20 percent for operational costs, and 20 percent for workers’ wages.
Furthermore, he stated that the illegal mining activity has been ongoing for quite some time. One suspect has been involved since 2012 as a worker, before developing into an investor.
Meanwhile, the other two suspects began actively opening new mining sites from 2017 until 2025.
“Although it temporarily stopped because the gold content at a certain point was depleted, the perpetrators continued to search for new locations and resumed operations without going through proper permitting procedures,” he said.
For their actions, he noted, the suspects are charged under Article 158 and/or Article 161 of Law Number 3 of 2020 on Amendments to Law Number 4 of 2009 on Mineral and Coal Mining, in conjunction with Article 20 letter C of the Criminal Code.
According to him, the suspects face a maximum prison sentence of five years and a maximum fine of Rp100 billion.
He said the three suspects, along with evidence in the form of mining equipment and gold processing results, have now been secured at the Satreskrim of Polresta Banyumas for further investigation.
“We are also continuing to explore the possibility of other parties involved in the illegal mining activity, while anticipating environmental damage due to unlicensed mining practices in the area,” said the Head of Polresta.