Nasional, KOTABARI.COM – The Indonesian Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has designated Ismail Thomas, a politician from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), as a suspect in a case involving the alleged forgery of mining company documents. Ismail Thomas, who is also a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives’ Commission I, is suspected of being involved in forging documents related to mining agreements between PT Gunung Bara Utama and PT Sendawar Jaya in Kutai Barat, East Kalimantan.
Ketut Sumedana, the spokesperson for AGO, revealed that the investigative team from the Special Crime Prosecutor’s Office (Jampidsus) has executed the suspect designation and detention of Ismail Thomas. “The Jampidsus investigative team has carried out the designation of the suspect and detention of the initial suspect IT (Ismail Thomas), a member of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives or the Regent of Kutai Barat from 2006 to 2016,” Ketut stated during a press conference on Tuesday, August 15.
Based on his role, Ketut explained that Ismail Thomas is suspected of participating in the forgery of mining permit documents with the intention of assisting in safeguarding assets belonging to Heru Hidayat, a convict in the PT Jiwasraya insurance corruption case. The alleged forged documents were subsequently utilized by Heru Hidayat during the court proceedings, ultimately resulting in his victory against AGO.
Ketut Sumedana emphasized that Ismail Thomas will be detained for the next 20 days, until September 3, 2023, at the Salemba Detention Center branch of AGO. Ismail is charged under Article 9 of the Corruption Law in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code.
This incident originated when AGO previously seized a mine that was deemed an asset of PT Gunung Bara Utama, a subsidiary of PT Trada Alam Minerba. PT Trada Alam itself is owned by Heru Hidayat, who has been convicted in the PT Jiwasraya corruption case. However, PT Sendawar Jaya claimed to hold valid permits for the mining site.
PT Sendawar Jaya also lodged a lawsuit regarding ownership of the mine at the South Jakarta District Court in July 2022. In this lawsuit, AGO was also listed as a co-defendant. The court ultimately ruled in favor of PT Sendawar Jaya’s ownership rights to the mine, mandating AGO to return the mine to PT Sendawar Jaya.
This case further unravels the complexity and intertwining of legal issues, asset ownership, and corruption involving various stakeholders, including politicians and mining companies. AGO continues to delve deeper into the matter to ensure justice prevails in this case.