East Java High Prosecutor's Office Names Geology Division Head a Suspect in Licensing Bribery Case

The East Java High Prosecutor’s Office has named another suspect in an illegal levy case within the provincial Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Agency. The new suspect is Ertika Dinawati, the Head of the Geology and Groundwater Division. She joins three previously named suspects: East Java ESDM Agency Head Aris Mukiyono, Head of Mining Oni Setiawan, and a groundwater work team chairman identified only as H.

Aspidsus of the East Java High Prosecutor’s Office, I Gede Punia Atmaja, stated that based on the investigation, Ertika allegedly ordered her subordinates to collect illegal fees from hundreds of permit applicants, acting on the orders and with the knowledge of her superior. The total amount collected from 217 applicants reached Rp1,336,683,000.

In addition to the collective collection, Ertika is also suspected of independently collecting Rp145 million from four permit applicants without the knowledge of the agency head. She allegedly instructed a subordinate to keep records of the receipts and expenditures of the collected money, which were then reported back to her and the head of the agency.

The illegal levies targeted all business operators and individuals applying for permits in East Java, including those in the mining and groundwater sectors. The total amount of evidence seized from Ertika is valued at Rp1.95 billion, including a Toyota Fortuner, a 19.65-gram gold necklace, and two 25-gram precious metal bars. Investigators noted that some of the illicit funds were converted into gold. Ertika is currently detained for 20 days and faces multiple charges under the anti-corruption law.