National Police Criminal Investigation Agency Designates Two New Suspects in Illegal Gold Mining Case in East Java

The National Police Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim Polri) has once again designated two new suspects in the alleged money laundering case stemming from unlicensed gold mining (PETI) in East Java. Director of Special Economic Crimes at Bareskrim Polri, Brigadier General Ade Safri Simanjuntak, identified the suspects as DHB, a former Director of PT Simba Jaya Utama (PT SJU), and VC, the current Director of PT SJU. “Based on sufficient evidence, investigators have designated two new suspects who are strongly suspected of participating in the unlicensed mining activities and money laundering offences,” he stated in a written release on Wednesday (13/5). Ade Safri explained that investigators had initially intended to designate SB alias A, the father of suspect DHB, as a suspect. However, the individual passed away in April 2026, rendering him exempt from legal proceedings. Ade Safri noted that the designation of these new suspects represents a development from the previous case, which implicated three individuals with initials TW, DW, and BSW on 27 February 2026. “From the results of further investigation, investigators uncovered the involvement of other parties in the chain of illegal activities,” he clarified. According to their roles, the two suspects are alleged to have jointly conducted a series of illegal activities, from collecting and utilising to processing and refining gold sourced from unlicensed mining. Furthermore, Ade Safri stated, they are also suspected of involvement in transporting and selling the illegal gold. In addition, investigators are tracing alleged money laundering offences (TPPU) related to the proceeds of these crimes. “The ‘follow the money’ approach is being used to uncover the flow of funds suspected to originate from illegal activities,” he explained. The two suspects are charged under multiple layered articles, including the Mineral and Coal Mining Law, the Criminal Code, and the Money Laundering Offences Law. “For the purposes of the investigation process, investigators have also implemented preventive legal measures abroad against the two suspects,” he said. He emphasised that the state will not tolerate illegal mining practices that potentially harm state finances and damage the environment. “This law enforcement not only targets the original offences but also the money laundering, to provide maximum deterrent effects,” he added. Previously, Bareskrim Polri seized 6 kilograms of gold bullion and cash amounting to Rp1.4 billion from three gold refining and trading companies in East Java. Ade Safri said the seizure occurred following searches of PT Simba Jaya Utama (SJU), PT Indah Golden Signature (IGS), and PT Suka Jadi Logam (SJL). “The investigation team has seized evidence including approximately 6 kilograms of gold bullion in various sizes, documents or letters, electronic evidence, cash amounting to Rp1,454,000,000, and other related evidence of the alleged offences,” he told reporters on Tuesday (31/3). He noted that the searches were part of the investigation into the alleged Money Laundering Offences (TPPU) originating from illegal gold mining activities (PETI) over the period from 2019 to 2025.