" Mining Bauxite in Orangutan Habitat, This Company Sued a Fine of IDR 37.5 Billion and Revocation of Permit", 14 August 2019

(Text originally in Indonesian)

"PT Laman Mining, a bauxite mining company in North Matan Hilir District, Ketapang Regency, West Kalimantan, has been sued for revocation of its business license and a fine of IDR 37.5 billion for alleged illegal mining activities.

The public prosecutor (JPU) of the Ketapang District Prosecutor's Office read out the demands in a hanging trial held at the Ketapang District Court, West Kalimantan, Wednesday (14/8/2019).

Head of the Ketapang District Attorney's General Crimes Section, Rudi Astanto, explained that from the trial process, PT Laman Mining was considered legally and proven to have committed a criminal act of carrying out mining activities in forest areas without the ministry's permission as stated in Law Number 18 of 2017 concerning Prevention and Eradication of Forest Destruction....

According to Rudi, based on the facts revealed at trial, the prosecutor demanded a fine of IDR 37.5 billion and revocation of the company's business license.

"If the company does not pay the fine within one month, the corporation's assets will be confiscated," said Rudi to Kompas.com , Wednesday afternoon....

It is suspected that the bauxite mining company PT Laman Mining brought an excavator for bauxite mining activities in the Tulak River HPK area, Ketapang Regency, without the minister's permission.

Apart from that, the Tulak River forest area exploited by PT Laman Mining is a buffer zone for the Gunung Palung National Park and is also an orangutan habitat ...

The corporation is suspected of having violated Law Number 18 of 2013 concerning Prevention and Eradication of Forest Destruction Article 89 Paragraph 2 letter A and/or letter B, with the threat of imprisonment for a minimum of 8 years and a maximum of 20 years, as well as a fine of at least IDR 20 billion and a maximum of IDR 50 billion..."