Padang, West Sumatra (ANTARA) – The West Sumatra regional police have arrested an Indian national for allegedly trading 1.4 kilograms of gold believed to have originated from unlicensed mining activities.
According to West Sumatra Police’s Public Relations Department Head Senior Commissioner Susmelawati Rosya, the Indian national, identified by the initial A, aged 39, was nabbed on Thursday (August 20) evening.
“The suspect is currently undergoing intensive questioning at the West Sumatra police,” Rosya said at a press conference on Friday.
Meanwhile, Head of West Sumatra Special Crimes Investigation Unit, Adjunct Senior Commissioner Okta Rahmansyah, said the arrest was made after the police obtained information about alleged illegal gold transactions.
As the police arrested A at a gas station in Solok City, West Sumatra, they seized three gold bars with a total weight of 1.4 kilograms, a digital scale, Rp6.03 million in cash, a cellphone, and other items.
A preliminary investigation found that A allegedly worked for a financier, identified with the initial N, who is based in Malaysia.
The suspect A is allegedly instructed to purchase gold from unlicensed gold mining in Sijunjung and Solok districts.
“The gold was supposed to be handed over to N’s right-hand man for delivery to Malaysia. However, the suspect was arrested before the gold changed hands,” Rahmansyah added.
The Indian national is being processed under Article 161 of the 2020 Mineral and Coal Law, penalizing those responsible for using, purchasing, or transporting mineral commodities from illegal sources.
The West Sumatra Police is coordinating with the immigration authority and the Embassy of India in Jakarta in handling the case, he said, adding that the investigation is carried out in an effort to eradicate unlicensed mining activities in the province.
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Translator: Rahmatul Laila, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Bayu Prasetyo
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