UGM Expert: Mining Often Involves Many Parties

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — A legal expert from Gadjah Mada University, Muhammad Fatahillah Akbar, stated that mining activities often involve many parties. Consequently, when legal issues arise, numerous parties are typically implicated. “In the case of the arrest of the Chairman of the Indonesian Ombudsman in the mining case, this is related to allegations of bribery in the issuance of recommendations,” said Fatahillah. It is no surprise that the nickel case in Southeast Sulawesi could involve other parties. Currently, the Attorney General’s Office (Kejagung) is very active in taking action against mining cases. Fatahillah stated that Kejagung’s steps must be accompanied by creating a mining governance system that can eliminate corrupt acts. The measure of impoverishing mining corruption perpetrators, according to Fatahillah, is already regulated. For example, by paying restitution for state losses. “In that way, (law enforcement) can seize assets as much as possible,” he explained. Kejagung’s aggressive approach in investigating mining cases, said Fatahillah, must also be carried out by building good governance. “The government must close corruption loopholes, supervision must be optimised, and local government agencies must also be optimised,” he said.