South Kalimantan High Prosecutor's Office Raids ESDM Office Over Tabalong Mining Permit Corruption

The investigative team of the South Kalimantan High Prosecutor’s Office (Kejati Kalsel) has taken decisive action by raiding the office of the South Kalimantan Provincial Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Department. The search is related to the alleged abuse of authority in the application process for Mining Business Permits (IUP) in the Tabalong Regency area.

The Head of the Tabalong District Attorney’s Office, Anggara Suryanagara, confirmed that through the Special Crimes division of the South Kalimantan High Prosecutor’s Office, a case exposure has been conducted. Based on the results of the exposure, investigators found sufficient valid evidence to escalate the case to the suspect designation stage.

“We have conducted a case exposure for the designation of a suspect in the alleged corruption case regarding the mining business permit application process in Tabalong Regency at the South Kalimantan ESDM Department for the 2023 to 2025 fiscal years. Based on the sufficiency of evidence, we have named one suspect with the initials HPW,” Anggara Suryanagara stated in a press release on Monday (8/6).

The suspect, HPW, is a Civil Servant (PNS) who served as an evaluator in the Mineral and Coal Mining Business Section of the South Kalimantan ESDM Department during the period the case occurred.

Anggara revealed that the modus operandi employed by HPW between 2023 and 2025 involved exploiting his position as an evaluation staff member. HPW is strongly suspected of demanding sums of money from entrepreneurs or applicants processing mining business permits in the Tabalong region.

For these actions, HPW faces charges under Article 12 letter e of Law Number 20 of 2001, which amends Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Corruption Crimes. This article regulates alleged extortion committed by civil servants.

Following the designation of the suspect, the investigative team moved swiftly to conduct searches at three different locations to secure evidence. This action was based on Investigation Order Number 03/O.3.16/FD.1/05/2026, dated 11 May 2026.

The Prosecutor’s Office continues to conduct further investigations to ensure whether there is any involvement of other parties in this abuse of authority case within the South Kalimantan ESDM Department.