Indonesia's police detain two more suspects in illegal gold case

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's police have detained two additional suspects in an alleged illegal gold mining and money laundering case involving an illegal gold processing and distribution network.

The suspects were identified by their initials as DHB, a former director of PT SJU from Aug. 13, 2021, to Sept. 14, 2022, and VC, the company's current director since Sept. 14, 2022, Director of Special Economic Crimes at Indonesia’s National Police Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim Polri) Brig. Gen. Ade Safri Simanjuntak said.

Police detained the pair on suspicion of jointly receiving, processing, refining and selling gold sourced from illegal mining operations, as well as involvement in money laundering offenses, he said.

After naming them suspects, investigators summoned both men for questioning on June 10. However, neither appeared for the scheduled examination.

Investigators then issued a second summons for June 15, and both suspects complied and attended questioning, Ade said.

DHB and VC were questioned for about seven hours. Investigators asked DHB 33 questions, while VC was questioned on 23 separate points, he said.

Following the interviews, both suspects were placed in detention at the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency detention center for 20 days, from June 16 to July 5, 2026.

Investigators will continue coordinating with Indonesia's Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) to trace assets and track financial flows linked to the alleged criminal network, Ade said.

DHB is the son of SB, also known as A, who was previously suspected of playing a key role in the network. SB has since died and can no longer be prosecuted. Police had earlier named three other suspects — TW, DW and BSW — from PT SPEM/Semar Nganjuk Gold Store.

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Translator: Nadia PR, Rahmad Nasution

Editor: Anton Santoso

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