Ministry of Transmigration Supports Resolution of Corruption Case Involving Land in East Kalimantan

The Ministry of Transmigration supports the resolution through legal processes of the alleged corruption case involving transmigration land in Kutai Kartanegara Regency, East Kalimantan. “The Ministry of Transmigration 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 Transmigration, Sigit Mustofa Nurudin, in a written statement in Jakarta on Friday. Based on records from the East Kalimantan High Prosecutor’s Office (Kejati), illegal mining occurred on around 1,800 hectares of transmigration land. This illegal mining caused damage to hundreds of transmigrants’ homes, agricultural lands, and public and social facilities. Currently, the East Kalimantan Kejati has designated six suspects in the case. Three of them are former Heads of the Mining and Energy Office of Kutai Kartanegara Regency, namely HM (2005-2008), BH (2009-2010), and ADR (2011-2013). The other three suspects are from the companies PT KRA, PT ABE, and PT JMB. From the investigation results, illegal mining activities took place during the period 2005-2011 in the Transmigration Land Management Rights (HPL) area No. 01 in Tenggarong Seberang Subdistrict, Kutai Kartanegara, East Kalimantan, covering the villages of Bhuana Jaya, Mulawarman, Suka Maju, Bukit Pariaman, and Separi. The case began when the regency government could still issue mining permits. In 2007, suspect HM, who served as Head of the Mining and Energy Office of Kutai Kartanegara Regency, facilitated mining business operation permits (IUP OP) for PT KRA, PT ABE, and PT JMB. These mining activities continued until HM’s position was replaced by BH and ADR. Both suspects are alleged to have allowed the mining activities despite the permitting process not being completed. The Ministry of Transmigration is committed to continuing coordination with law enforcement agencies and local government to ensure the restoration of transmigrants’ rights and the reorganisation of the affected areas, so they can be utilised again for the benefit of the community. “The Ministry of Transmigration 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 that the transmigration land can be used again according to its intended purpose,” said Sigit.