Nagan Raya, Aceh (ANTARA) – Police in Indonesia’s Aceh Province have detained a man identified as UT on suspicion of illegal gold mining in Tuwi Meulesong Village, Nagan Raya District, on Friday, October 23.
“He remains at Nagan Raya Police headquarters to face legal proceedings,” Nagan Raya Police Criminal Investigation Unit Chief Adjunct Commissioner Muhammad Rizal told reporters on Saturday.
UT was taken into custody on Friday at about 11 a.m. after reporting to the unit’s special crimes division for questioning and further legal proceedings.
Rizal said the investigation began on October 12, when joint teams from Nagan Raya Police and the district military command’s intelligence unit received information about suspected illegal gold mining in Tuwi Meulesong.
The joint team, led by Rizal, visited the site and found equipment suspected of being used for unlicensed mining.
The equipment included two huts, an orange Hitachi excavator, a gold-screening unit known as an asbuk, a digital scale, two gold separators called indang, a small pan, three screening mats and a Tianli water pump.
Police transported the excavator and other evidence to Nagan Raya Police headquarters, accompanied by the village head.
Investigators said witness statements indicated the excavator had been used for mining since July 2026. They also suspect UT owned the machine and financed the operation.
Investigators sent UT two summonses, but he failed to respond to either without a valid reason, according to the investigation report.
After questioning witnesses and collecting evidence, investigators obtained indications of UT’s suspected involvement in the illegal mining operation.
On Friday, October 23, UT eventually reported to the special crimes division at Nagan Raya Police headquarters and was detained for further questioning.
UT is suspected of violating Article 158 in conjunction with Article 35 of Law No. 3 of 2020, which amended Law No. 4 of 2009 on Mineral and Coal Mining, along with related amendments cited in the case report.
The seized evidence included an orange Hitachi excavator, two gold separators, a digital scale, three gold-screening mats installed on the asbuk unit, and a small pan.
Rizal said investigators were continuing to examine the case, gather witness statements, and inspect evidence related to the suspected unlicensed mining activities.
The investigation aims to establish the roles of those allegedly involved and ensure that legal proceedings comply with applicable laws, he added.
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Translator: Teuku DI, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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