New Facts in Illegal Gold Mining Case in East Java, Police Name Boss's Son as Suspect

Jakarta, VIVA – Bareskrim Polri continues to uncover the network of alleged illegal gold mining in Sidoarjo, East Java. In the latest development, police have named two new suspects, one of whom is the son of a figure suspected to be a key player behind the illegal business.

The two suspects now charged are Denny and Vhalenthio. Their designation follows investigators’ deeper probe into the case of gold processing and distribution without permits, which previously ensnared three other suspects with initials TW, DW, and BSW.

Director of Special Economic Crimes at Bareskrim Polri, Brigadier General Police Ade Safri Simanjuntak, stated that investigators found involvement of other parties in the illegal mining business chain.

“Based on sufficient evidence, investigators have named two new suspects who are strongly suspected of participating in unlicensed mining activities and money laundering crimes,” he said, quoted on Wednesday, 13 May 2026.

From the investigation results, DHB is known to be the son of SB alias A, a figure previously suspected of having a central role in the illegal mining network. DHB once served as Director of PT Simba Jaya Utama (PT SJU) from 13 August 2021 to 14 September 2022.

Meanwhile, suspect VC has served as Director of PT SJU since 14 September 2022 to the present. SB alias A is said to have passed away in April 2026, so legal proceedings against him automatically lapse.

Nevertheless, investigators assure that the case pursuit will not stop. Police are now focusing on tracing other parties suspected of benefiting from the illegal gold business.

In the case construction, both suspects are alleged to have roles in the chain of illegal mining activities, from receiving gold material from unlicensed mining, processing, purifying, to reselling it.

“In addition, they are also suspected of involvement in transporting and selling the illegal gold,” Ade Safri stated.

Not only targeting the original crimes, Bareskrim is also tracing allegations of money laundering crimes (TPPU) in this case. Investigators are using the follow the money method to track fund flows suspected to originate from illegal mining activities.

Police claim to have obtained at least five valid pieces of evidence before naming the two suspects. The evidence includes witness statements, expert opinions, documents, physical evidence, and electronic evidence.