Four Key Points on Illegally Exported 'Treasure' as Three Suspects Are Charged

The Attorney General’s Office (Kejagung) has uncovered a case of alleged violations in the export of rare earth minerals in Batam, Riau Islands. Three individuals have been named as suspects. The investigation was conducted jointly with the Forest Area Control Task Force (Satgas PKH). The three suspects are believed to have facilitated the export of this national ‘treasure’ by manipulating laboratory test results and issuing export documents. Director of Investigation for the Junior Attorney General for Special Crimes, Syarief Sulaeman Nahdi, announced the suspects: Iwan Setiawan (IS), a representative of PT PMM; Gian Prabuharto (GP), Head of the Pangkalpinang Service Unit of PT Sucofindo; and Junanto Kurniawan (JK), Head of the Type C Customs and Excise Service and Supervision Office in Pangkalpinang. The case began when Iwan requested that Gian not conduct a comprehensive examination of ilmenite samples. Ilmenite is a primary source of titanium and is abundant in Indonesia. Upon inspection by the Satgas PKH, rare earth minerals were found in the jumbo bags that were declared to contain only ilmenite. The aim was to ensure that the rare earth mineral content, which is on the list of strategic minerals prohibited for export, was not included in the laboratory test report that could serve as the basis for issuing export documents. Gian allegedly fulfilled Iwan’s request by only testing the top portion of the cargo in the jumbo bags, meaning the rare earth content went undetected during the laboratory tests for export documentation. Furthermore, Junanto, as Head of Customs in Pangkalpinang, is suspected of issuing export documents despite knowing the goods from PT PMM contained rare earth minerals. He allegedly approved a non-comprehensive inspection of the 390 tonnes of material. The suspects’ actions allowed PT PMM to illegally export approximately 390 tonnes of material containing rare earth minerals.