Ministry of Transmigration Supports Attorney General's Office in Thoroughly Uncovering Alleged Corruption in Illegal Mining on Transmigration Land in Kukar

The Ministry of Transmigrasi (Kementrans) has expressed full support for the legal process regarding the alleged corruption in illegal mining on transmigration land in Kutai Kartanegara, East Kalimantan. The case, which occurred between 2005 and 2011, has drawn attention because land intended for the transmigration programme was misused for illegal mining activities. “The Ministry of Transmigrasi supports the resolution of the legal case involving transmigration land from 2005-2011,” stated the Director General of Development and Development of Transmigration Areas (PPKTrans), Ministry of Transmigrasi, Sigit Mustofa Nurudin, quoted on Friday, 27 March 2026. Kementrans emphasised that such land misuse practices must not recur as they contradict the transmigration programme’s objectives focused on societal welfare. “The Ministry of Transmigrasi never granted permission for mining activities on that land during the period 2005-2011. With the uncovering of the permit misuse case in Kutai Kartanegara, we hope the transmigration land can be returned to its intended use,” he said. According to data from the East Kalimantan High Prosecutor’s Office, around 1,800 hectares of transmigration land were allegedly mined illegally. The impact includes damage to hundreds of transmigrants’ homes, agricultural land, and public and social facilities, rendering them unusable. In this case, the East Kalimantan Attorney General’s Office has designated six individuals as suspects. Three of them are former Heads of the Mining and Energy Office of Kutai Kartanegara Regency, while the other three are from companies. This was revealed by the Head of the Legal Bureau of the Secretariat General of the Ministry of Transmigrasi, Rully Rachman. “The suspects from the companies are directors from PT JMB, PT ABE, and PT KRA. One of them, initialled BT, was detained on 23 February 2026, along with other suspects such as DA and GT who were also detained,” Rully stated. The case originated when local governments still had the authority to issue mining permits. In 2007, operational mining business permits (IUP OP) for several companies were reportedly approved, continuing into subsequent years. The illegal mining activities took place in the Transmigration Land Management Rights (HPL) Area No. 01 in Tenggarong Seberang Subdistrict, covering several villages such as Bhuana Jaya, Mulawarman, Suka Maju, Bukit Pariaman, and Separi. Kementrans assures continued coordination with law enforcement agencies and local government to restore transmigrants’ rights and reorganise the affected areas.