Mamuju Police Name Four Suspects in Illegal Gold Mining Cases

Mamuju (ANTARA) - Mamuju Police have named four suspects in three illegal gold mining cases uncovered in Mamuju Regency, West Sulawesi.

Mamuju Police Chief Commissioner Ferdyan Indra Fahmi said in Mamuju on Wednesday that the four suspects are respectively identified as AM (36), GS (41), D (33), and A (53).

According to him, suspect AM was named in an illegal gold mining case in Kondobulo village, Kalumpang subdistrict, GS in Karataun village, Kalumpang subdistrict, while D and A were named as suspects in a case in Buttuada village, Bonehau subdistrict.

The police chief said the four suspects have been detained at the Mamuju Police detention facility for 20 days for investigative purposes.

The suspects are charged under Law Number 3 of 2020 on Mineral and Coal Mining as well as other criminal provisions relating to environmental protection and forestry.

In addition to naming the suspects, investigators seized a number of items of evidence, including two excavators, a sand suction machine, water pumps, sluice boxes, filtering carpets, pans, and gold produced from the mining.

According to Ferdyan, the suspects carried out gold mining activities using heavy equipment without official permits, motivated by the pursuit of economic gain.

He affirmed that Mamuju Police will continue to crack down on illegal mining activities and urged the public to promptly report any similar activities in their area.