Three directors of Koba Tin declared as suspects in illegal tin mining

The Bangka Belitung Islands provincial police have declared three management board members of tin mining company PT Koba Tin as suspects in connection with the involvement in illegal mining, Kompas reported Saturday.

The three suspects are the company's president director Datuk Mohammad Anuar Sidek, a Malaysian citizen; director for operation Najib Jafaar, also a Malaysian citizen, and director for administration Mathias Haryanto.

Director for crime division Brig. Gen. Tukirno said in Pangkal Pinang Friday that police had summoned Datuk Umar Alwi, another member of the management board of the company, for questioning but he had yet to fulfill the police's summon.

Koba Tin, a joint venture between Indonesian and Malaysian company, had allegedly been conducting illegal mining activities outside contract areas and accepting illegal tin sand.

The Bangka Belitung Islands provincial police chief Imam Sudjarwo said at least 48 persons were now being questioned by the police. They are workers of Koba Tin, tin sand collectors, and officials of Koba Tin's partners.

PT Koba Tin's director for project and community development Armeyn Yahya, representing the government (PT Timah), was questioned as a witness.

Local police have sealed a tin smelter, a warehouse to store sand which is allegedly illegal, an electronic data processing room, and an account room. The police have also confiscated 20 containers loaded with 500 tons of tin ready for export.

Imam said that Koba Tin's suspects might face the maximum six-year imprisonment and have to pay Rp 500,000 in fine.

Koba Tin employees as many as 1,800 people, half of whom are permanent workers.

Koba Tin, 75 percent is owned by Malaysia Smelting Corp and 25 percent by state-owned tin miner PT Timah. (*)