PT Timah Responds to Case of Purchasing Ore from Illegal Mine
PT Timah (Persero) Tbk has spoken out regarding reports that the company purchased tin ore or sand from an illegal mine located in Dusun Sarang Ikan, Desa Lubuk Besar, Bangka Tengah Regency. Corporate Secretary of PT Timah, Ruddy Nursalam, stated that the company respects the ongoing legal process and assures its commitment to upholding principles of good corporate governance.
“We believe that the legal process will proceed professionally, transparently, and in accordance with applicable laws and regulations,” said Ruddy through the Department Head of Corporate Communication at PT Timah Tbk, Anggi Budiman Siahaan, to Tempo on Thursday, 23 April 2026.
Ruddy explained that the company is also committed to being cooperative and ensuring that all operations continue in line with principles of compliance, integrity, and accountability.
“Going forward, the company will continue to strengthen its monitoring and risk systems to prevent any occurrences that do not comply with regulations. For the company, improvements in facing increasingly complex dynamics are very important, especially in maintaining performance and trust in the company,” he said.
The revelation that PT Timah purchased tin sand from illegal mining activities was included in the indictment by the Public Prosecutor (JPU) in the trial of the alleged criminal act of corruption related to illegal tin mining in the production forest and protected forest areas of Dusun Nadi and Dusun Sarang Ikan at the Pangkalpinang District Court on Tuesday, 21 April 2026.
The four defendants in the case are Herman Fu, Yulhaidir, and Iguswan Sahputra, along with Mardiansyah, the Head of the Production Forest Management Unit (KPHP) Sungai Sembulan at the Bangka Belitung Provincial Environment and Forestry Office (DLHL).
In a copy of the indictment received by Tempo, the chronology of the illegal tin sand entering PT Timah was through its partner, CV Bangka Kita Pratama (BKP), owned by Hervandy alias Acan, who is also a witness in the case.
The illegal mining results from Sarang Ikan, managed by defendant Herman Fu as the heavy equipment coordinator and witness Yoppy Boen alias Akhuan as the operational mining financier. Defendant Yulhaidir then managed the mine and sold it to witness Melvin Edlyn alias Ahok.
By Melvin Edlyn alias Ahok, the origin of the illegal tin sand was manipulated to appear as if it came from a mine within PT Timah’s Mining Business Licence (IUP) area and sold to PT Timah’s partner, CV Bangka Kita Pratama, with sales reaching Rp3.9 billion.
Not only PT Timah, but the prosecutors also revealed that the tin sand from these illegal activities was sold to the tin smelting company (Smelter) PT Mitra Stania Prima (MSP) with total sales of Rp15.7 billion.
The proceeds from this illegal activity were sent to PT MSP in two stages. First, through defendant Iguswan with sales of Rp8.1 billion, and witnesses Hendra Yadi and Afuk with sales of Rp7.5 billion.
Commissioner of PT Mitra Stania Prima (MSP), Harwendro Adityo Dewanto, when contacted by Tempo, has not yet provided a response regarding the payment for tin sand from illegal mining. However, in the prosecutor’s indictment, PT Timah and PT Mitra Stania Prima are listed as aggrieved parties because they paid for illegal tin sand. The prosecutor includes the value of payments for illegal tin sand received by PT Timah and PT Mitra Stania Prima in the state losses.
The state losses in the case amount to Rp87.4 billion. These losses consist of the value of tin ore paid by PT Timah through CV Bangka Kita Pratama at Rp3.8 billion and PT Mitra Stania Prima at Rp15.7 billion. In addition, there are environmental damage costs comprising ecological losses of Rp47.9 billion, economic losses of Rp18.3 billion, and restoration costs of Rp1.5 billion.