The Iceberg Phenomenon: Indonesia's Illegal Tin Floods Global Markets

The corruption case in the tin trading sector, resulting in a state loss of Rp 217 trillion, sheds light on the rampant illegal tin mining activities in the "tin paradise" of Bangka Belitung. The Attorney General's Office has identified 16 suspects in this case, including Mochtar Riza Pahlevi Tabrani, who served as the CEO of PT Timah Tbk from 2016 to 2021; Emil Ermindra, the CFO of PT Timah Tbk from 2017 to 2018; Helena Lim, the Marketing Manager of PT Quantum Skyline; and Harvey Moeis, a representative of PT Refined Bangka Tin.

Kuntadi, Deputy Director of Investigation at the Special Criminal Prosecutor's Office of the Attorney General's Office, stated that Harvey and Reza colluded to facilitate illegal mining activities within the mining permit (IUP) area of PT Timah. Their modus operandi involved leasing tin smelting processing equipment. Harvey then contacted other suspects who owned smelters and mining businesses engaged in illegal tin mining and processing, which were then sold back to PT Timah. The husband of actress Sandra Dewi then requested these entrepreneurs to set aside their profits, which Helena Lim later collected. According to Kuntadi, this practice occurred between 2015 and 2022.