Former KSOP Head Receives Payments from Samin Tan to Allow Coal Shipments
Indonesia’s Attorney General’s Office (Kejagung) has designated three new suspects in the alleged corruption case at PT Asmin Koalindo Tuhup (PT AKT), owned by Samin Tan (ST), in Murung Raya, Central Kalimantan. One of the suspects is the former Head of the Harbourmaster and Port Authority Office (KSOP) Rangga Ilung, Handry Sulfian (HS).
Head of the Special Crimes Investigation Directorate at Jampidsus Kejagung, Syarief Sulaeman Nahdi, explained that suspect HS is alleged to have received monthly payments to allow Samin Tan’s illegal coal to sail.
Syarief stated that HS issued Sailing Approval Letters (SPB) to parties affiliated with Samin Tan, even though the documents used were invalid. In fact, HS knew that PT AKT’s mining permit had been revoked since 2017.
“Suspect HS, as Head of KSOP Rangga Ilung, issued sailing approval letters to PT MCM and other companies. However, suspect HS knew that the shipping documents for the coal-loaded vessels belonged to AKT and were sold using incorrect documents,” said Syarief during a press conference at the Kejagung’s Round Building in South Jakarta on Thursday (23/4/2026).
Syarief revealed that HS deliberately did not verify reports from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) because he had received money from Samin Tan. In fact, those reports were a requirement for issuing sailing orders.
“The suspect also received monthly money unlawfully from companies affiliated with suspect ST, who is the beneficial owner (BO) of PT AKT,” he said.
Based on initial investigation results, the monthly payments to HS began when he took office in 2022. However, Syarief has not disclosed the exact amount received by HS from Samin Tan.
“The amount of money is still being tallied by us, but it varies. It has been from 2022 until 2024,” said Syarief.
The second suspect is Bagus Jaya Wardhana (BJW), Director of PT AKT. Syarief revealed that BJW played a role in conducting illegal mining operations and exports until 2025, despite the company’s permit being terminated.
To facilitate their actions, suspect BJW used documents from several other companies affiliated with Samin Tan.
“Suspect BJW, together with suspect ST until 2025, through PT AKT and its affiliates, used documents from several other companies without permission, unlawfully conducting coal mining and exports,” he said.
The third suspect is Helmi Zaidan Mauludin (HZM), General Manager of PT OOWL Indonesia. Acting as a surveyor, HZM is alleged to have falsified laboratory test results or Certificate of Analysis (COA) so that coal from PT AKT’s illegal mining could pass verification.
“Together with suspect ST and his affiliated companies, in creating Certificate of Analysis or COA documents for laboratory test results of coal originating from the mining area of PT AKT’s PKP2B, which had been terminated,” said Syarief.
Syarief said HZM created verification result reports (LHP) for mining products that did not match reality. He listed the origin of the goods under other company names to be submitted as requirements for issuing sailing orders.
“HZM’s duty is to conduct checks, and as a surveyor, to perform checks and create verification result documents or LHP for mining products to be submitted as requirements for issuing sailing orders from the Harbourmaster Authority or KSOP and payment of coal royalties,” he said.
Syarief added that suspect HZM was forcibly brought in by Kejagung investigators because he was uncooperative during the legal process.
“We conducted a forced summons for HZM because the individual was uncooperative and had failed to attend summons from the Prosecutor’s Office twice,” he said.
Now, all three suspects have been detained at Class I Cipinang Detention Centre for the next 20 days. They are charged under Article 603 and subsidiarily Article 604 of the Corruption Eradication Law (UU Tipikor).
Samin Tan Becomes a Suspect
Previously, Kejagung designated Samin Tan as a suspect in the corruption case involving irregularities in the management of mining at PT Asmin Koalindo Tuhup (AKT) in Murung Raya Regency, Central Kalimantan. Samin Tan is said to be the beneficial owner of PT AKT.
Director of Investigations (Dirdik) of the Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes (Jampidsus), Syarief Sulaeman Nahdi, stated that the company previously operated under a Coal Mining Business Work Agreement (PKP2B). However, the company’s permit was revoked in 2017.
Despite the permit being revoked, PT AKT is alleged to have continued illegal mining and coal sales activities until 2025.
“After the revocation, PT AKT still continued unlawful and illegal mining and sales of mining products until 2025,” said Director of Investigations of the Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes (Jampidsus), Syarief Sulaeman Nahdi, during a press conference at Kejagung in South Jakarta on Friday night (27/3/2026).
Furthermore, these activities are alleged to have been carried out by violating invalid permits and collaborating with rogue state officials responsible for supervision in the mining sector.
“Thus causing losses to state finances or the national economy,” Syarief continued.