Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The Central Jakarta District Court on Wednesday (17/12/2025) acquitted two nickel mining workers from East Halmahera, ruling they acted to protect state assets when installing boundary markers at a mining concession area.

Presiding Judge Sunoto said the defendants, Marsel Bialembang and Awab Hafidz, had no criminal intent. 

“Their action was based on the belief that they were preventing illegal mining and safeguarding state assets,” he said, as reported by antaranews.com

The judges found the defendants did not violate the Forestry Law, as the installation of markers was not aimed at unlawfully controlling forest land. The court acknowledged indications of suspected illegal mining activities by another company, PT Position, although such allegations must be examined in a separate legal process.

Prosecutors had charged both men, employees of PT Wana Kencana Mineral, under the Mining Law and the Forestry Law. While the court imposed a prison sentence of five months and 25 days under the mining obstruction charge, it ordered their immediate release as they had already served eight months in detention.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)