inp.polri.go.id - Kaimana. The Kaimana Sub-regional Police, West Papua, has named five suspects in an illegal gold mining crime located in Rurumo Village, Teluk Etna District.

Kaimana Sub-regional Police Chief, Superintendent Satria Dwi Dharma said during a press conference in Kaimana, Tuesday, that the five illegal miners named as suspects had the initials JK, AM, RD, PW, and SCP.

"Suspect JK played a role as a donor for his friends," said Satria.

He said that the five suspects were successfully arrested after the police received reports from local residents about illegal gold mining activities.

The five suspects admitted that the illegal gold mining activities had been going on for approximately 2 years by two groups, and one of the groups was led by suspect JK.

"JK's team has obtained approximately 700 grams of gold. There are two groups, but one group is just about to start mining," he said.

In addition to the five suspects, police also confiscated a number of pieces of evidence used for illegal gold mining.

The evidence is in the form of one sack containing material suspected of gold, one compressor unit, one bottle suspected of containing mercury, one plastic mineral material, and others.

"Several pieces of evidence will later be taken to the laboratory for examination. This case is still under development to determine the involvement of other parties," he said.

The police charged the five suspects with Article 158 in conjunction with Article 161 of Law Number 3 of 2020 concerning Amendments to Law Number 40 of 2009 concerning Mineral and Coal Mining, in conjunction with Article 55 Paragraph 1 points 1 and 2 of the Criminal Code.

"Investigators will later continue with the examination of criminal experts, forensic experts, and mining experts," concluded Satria.

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