East Java Prosecutor's Office Raids ESDM Office Over Permit Extortion Allegations

The East Java High Prosecutor’s Office (Kejati Jatim) raided the Energy and Mineral Resources Office (Dinas ESDM) of East Java Province on Thursday (16/4). The search is strongly suspected to be related to practices of illegal levies (pungli) in the permit issuance process.

Observations at the location showed that the investigative team from the Special Criminal Division (Pidsus) of Kejati Jatim arrived at the office in Surabaya around 12:00 WIB. Until 18:30 WIB, officers were still combing through several rooms to search for documents and evidence items.

The office area was tightly guarded by internal prosecutorial security, Military Police officers, and security personnel. Access for outsiders was restricted during the search process.

The Head of the Legal Information Section of Kejati Jatim, Adnan Sulistiyono, confirmed that the search was part of the investigation into alleged corruption in the public services sector.

“It is true, related to the investigation of alleged criminal acts of corruption involving illegal levies in the issuance of permits at the East Java Provincial ESDM Office. Today, investigators conducted a search at the East Java Provincial ESDM Office to find and uncover supporting evidence, whether in the form of documents or letters, as well as electronic evidence (BBE),” Adnan said when contacted.

Adnan explained that investigators are working to strengthen the case construction by tracing administrative documents and electronic devices suspected to be related to bribery practices in energy sector permitting services.

Nevertheless, the Prosecutor’s Office is still keeping information tight regarding who has been examined or the list of suspects in this case.

“Developments will be conveyed further,” he stated.

The investigative team is still in the field and has not provided an official statement regarding the preliminary results of the search.