Facts of the Samin Tan Case: Licence Revoked Since 2017, Mine Operations Continued Until 2025

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has designated Samin Tan, the beneficial owner of PT Asmin Koalindo Tuhup (AKT), as a suspect in an alleged criminal corruption case concerning irregularities in the management of mining operations by PT AKT in Murung Raya Regency, Central Kalimantan, from 2016 to 2025.

He was immediately detained at the Salemba Detention Centre of the Attorney General’s Office in the early hours of Saturday (28/3/2026) for the next 20 days.

Here are the facts of the case and the detention of Samin Tan.

Director of Investigations at the Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes (Jampidsus) Syarief Sulaeman stated that PT AKT sold coal illegally for eight years despite its licence having been revoked.

However, the company owned by Samin is suspected of continuing mining and coal sales activities until 2025.

“The licence of PT AKT was revoked in 2017, but the company is suspected of still conducting mining and illegal coal sales until 2025,” said Syarief at the AGO on Saturday (28/3/2026) in the early hours.

The AGO suspects that Samin’s company was able to continue operating due to the involvement of rogue state officials, particularly those working as mining supervisors.

“In this case, there is collaboration with state officials who oversee the mine,” said Syarief.

“For now, there are no suspects from the state officials’ element, but this falls under corruption because it is suspected there was collaboration with state officials,” said Syarief.

Before designating Samin as a suspect, investigators had conducted searches at several locations.

Syarief mentioned that the searches were carried out in four different provinces, namely Jakarta, West Java, South Kalimantan, and Central Kalimantan.

The searches were still ongoing when Samin was brought to Jakarta.