JAN praises Attorney General's Office over bauxite mining corruption case

Nusantara Activists Network (JAN) has praised the Attorney General’s Office for uncovering alleged corruption in the management of bauxite mining permits for PT Quality Sukses Sejahtera (QSS). National Coordinator Ibrahim said the public should applaud the designation of four suspects in the PT QSS bauxite permit corruption case covering 2017-2025. “This case demonstrates the Attorney General’s Office’s courage in tackling alleged crimes in the natural resources sector, which has long been considered difficult to address,” he said. The four suspects are YA, a commissioner of PT QSS; IA, a PT QSS licensing consultant and director of PT BMU; HSFD, a government official (Mineral Business Development Directorate analyst at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources); and AP, PT QSS director. However, JAN warned that law enforcement’s courage should not stop at just one case. Recently, the Attorney General’s Office named a new suspect, MJE, owner of PT CBU (Cordelia Bara Utama). For JAN, the alleged illegal mining case involving PT AKT is not just an ordinary criminal case. Previously, the Attorney General’s Office has detailed the case structure, conducted raids, and gathered evidence to strengthen the investigation. Ibrahim highlighted suspicions that PT MCM’s Work and Budget Plan (RKAB) documents were used in activities linked to PT AKT. Additionally, JAN mentioned approximately Rp390 billion allegedly used to pay fines to the Forest Area Enforcement Task Force (PKH) account. If true, he said investigators must trace the flow of funds and operations behind the mining activities. “If documents are used, who provided them? If money flows, who manages it? If there’s protection, who guarantees it? All must be exposed,” he said. On 11 May 2026, JAN staged a protest outside the Attorney General’s Office, submitting names they believe should be called for questioning to clarify the PT AKT illegal mining case. The demand comes amid public scrutiny of President Prabowo Subianto’s repeated commitments to eradicate natural resources corruption. Ibrahim viewed the illegal mining case as a critical test for the Attorney General’s Office to prove there is no selective enforcement of the law. He added that state losses from illegal mining and natural resources corruption are not merely financial, but also impact communities in mining areas. “The President has clearly ordered no selective enforcement in anti-corruption efforts. The Attorney General’s Office must prove this is being implemented,” Ibrahim said.