Indonesian President Prabowo says billions lost to illegal tin mining every year
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The Indonesian leader ordered the authorities to step up enforcement earlier in October in islands rich in the metal.
PHOTO: AFP
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JAKARTA - Indonesia is losing more than US$2 billion (S$2.59 billion) every year to illegal tin mining and smuggling, President Prabowo Subianto said on Oct 20.
The Indonesian leader ordered the authorities to step up enforcement earlier in October in islands rich in the metal used in everything from electronics to making glass.
“There are still many illegal mines,” he told reporters on Oct 20.
“The losses are quite significant, estimated at 40 trillion rupiah (S$3.1 billion) per year, and this has been going on for almost 20 years.”
Mr Prabowo said the military was involved in operations to stop illegal tin smuggling from the Bangka-Belitung Islands, a hub for the illicit activity.
“Over 20 years, that’s 800 trillion. What could we build with that? What kind of country could we build with such resources?” he asked.
Earlier in October, Mr Prabowo visited Bangka-Belitung islands province to witness the seizure of assets from tin smelters implicated in a corruption case.
Six smelters were seized in that case and handed over to state-owned mining company PT Timah TBK.
Mr Prabowo was speaking on Oct 20 at a press conference where the Attorney-General also said around US$800 million was returned to the government’s coffers from palm oil companies, which the President said were part of huge “state losses”.
Attorney-General ST Burhanuddin said three palm oil companies had been prosecuted over “economic loss to the state” amounting to 17 trillion rupiah, most of which was being returned. AFP
