Attorney General's Office Seizes Money and Gold Worth Tens of Billions Related to Tin Trading Procedures

Attorney General investigators confiscated tens of billions in rupiah, US dollars and Singapore dollars. The confiscation of the money was related to alleged corruption in the tin trading system related to PT Timah Tbk.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in Kejagung Sita Uang dan Emas Senilai Puluhan Miliar Terkait Tata Niaga Timah

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Head of the Legal Information Center of the Attorney General's Office, Ketut Sumedana (right), gave a press statement in Jakarta, Wednesday (9/8/2023). On Thursday (7/12), the Attorney General's Office announced that it had raided 10 locations and seized several assets related to a case of alleged corruption and misconduct in the trading of tin commodities.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Investigators Attorney General searched 10 locations and confiscated several assets related to the case alleged corruption irregularities in the trade system of tin commodities in the region Mining Business License or IUP PT Timah Tbk for 2015-2022. However, investigators have not named a suspect in this case.

Head of Communication and Legal Information Center of the Attorney General's Office, Ketut Sumedana, stated in a press release on Thursday (7/12/2023) that investigators from the Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes at the Attorney General's Office conducted raids related to a suspected corruption case involving the deviation of trading procedures for tin commodities in the IUP of PT Timah Tbk from 2015 to 2022 at 10 locations. Seven of the locations raided were companies, while the other three were residential homes, all located in the province of Bangka Belitung Islands.

Also read: Downstreaming of Tin Mining Products Still Weak

The seven companies involved are PT SB office, CV VIP, PT SIP, PT TIN, CV BS, and CV MAL. Meanwhile, three residential houses that were searched belong to witness A in Pangkal Pinang city, witness TW in Bangka Tengah regency, and witness TW in Bangka regency.

From the search, investigators seized electronic evidence, documents, cash in several currencies, as well as other securities. "Strongly suspected as evidence related to a crime or the proceeds of a crime," said Ketut.

Strongly suspected as evidence related to a crime or the result of a crime.

PUSPENKUM KEJAKSAAN AGUNG

The raid and seizure process took place in one location related to the alleged corruption case of irregularities in the trade of tin commodities within the mining business permit area or IUP of PT Timah Tbk for the period of 2015-2022, on Wednesday (December 6, 2023).

The evidence that was seized consisted of 65 pieces of precious metal gold with a total weight of 1,062 grams, cash amounting to IDR 76.4 billion, cash in US dollar denominations amounting to 1.5 million, and cash in Singapore dollar denominations amounting to 411,400 Singapore dollars.

For security reasons, the evidence has been temporarily deposited at Bank BRI, Pangkal Pinang Branch. The investigators are still examining the case, including searching for other evidence.

Against the law

Separately, Jampidsus of the Attorney General's Office, Febrie Adriansyah, when asked about the case, stated that until now, investigators have not named any suspects. When asked further about the suspect's designation, Febrie did not elaborate, stating only, "Later."

The collaboration resulted in tin that was allegedly repurchased by PT Timah Tbk in an illegal manner, thus causing state losses. In order to calculate the state losses, investigators are cooperating with the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP).

As reported, this case is related to the cooperation between PT Timah Tbk and private parties, which is suspected to have been done illegally. The cooperation allegedly resulted in tin being bought back by PT Timah Tbk illegally, causing state losses. To calculate the state losses, investigators cooperated with the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP).

BPMI SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN/RUSMAN

PT Timah is building a high-tech TSL (top submerged lance) Ausmelt Furnace smelter and will be completed this November. President Joko Widodo reviewed development while discussing the possibility of ending raw tin exports.

Also read: Stopping Crude Tin Exports Will Be Calculated First

Separately, criminal law lecturer from Trisakti University, Abdul Fickar Hadjar, believes that the seizure conducted by investigators in the case indicates that they have already obtained evidence, thus enabling them to conclude that certain assets are suspected to be related to a crime or criminal activity. These assets become evidence until a final legal decision is made.

"When a criminal act is found and related to the case, the item is seized until a verdict is issued, either forfeited to the state, destroyed, or returned to its owner," stated Fickar.

Regarding the case, according to Fickar, the investigators are surely equipped with evidence. However, the suspect in the case has not been identified yet because it's possible that the investigators haven't reached a conclusion about who is considered most responsible based on the available evidence.