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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Crime & Justice

West Sumatra Police arrest Indian national, seize 1.4 kg of gold from illegal mining

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • West Sumatra Police arrested an Indian national in Solok City for alleged illegal gold trading.
  • The suspect, identified as A (39), was apprehended with 1.4 kilograms of gold bars, cash, and other evidence.
  • Authorities believe the suspect was acting on behalf of a financier in Malaysia, involved in purchasing gold from illegal mining operations in Indonesia.

West Sumatra Police have arrested a 39-year-old Indian national in Solok City in connection with alleged illegal gold trading. The suspect, identified by the initial A, was apprehended on Thursday evening and found in possession of 1.4 kilograms of gold bars, cash, and other supporting evidence.

The perpetrator apprehended is a foreign national, male.

— Kombes Pol Susmelawati RosyaConfirming the nationality and gender of the suspect during a press conference.

According to Kombes Pol Susmelawati Rosya, Head of Public Relations for the West Sumatra Regional Police, the suspect is currently undergoing intensive interrogation. The arrest stemmed from information regarding an alleged illegal gold transaction. Following an investigation, a team from the Sub-Directorate IV of the Regional Criminal Investigation Directorate successfully detained A at a gas station in Lubuk Sikarah District around 9:45 PM Western Indonesian Time.

Further investigation revealed that A was allegedly not acting alone but was taking orders from an individual identified as N, who is based in Malaysia. The suspect reportedly purchased gold in bar form derived from illegal mining activities, specifically from the Sijunjung and Gerabak Data areas in Solok Regency. "After successfully collecting the goods, the gold was to be picked up by N's trusted person to be taken to Malaysia, but the perpetrator was apprehended before the goods changed hands," explained AKBP Okta Rahmansyah of the Sub-Directorate IV.

After successfully collecting the goods, the gold was to be picked up by N's trusted person to be taken to Malaysia, but the perpetrator was apprehended before the goods changed hands.

— AKBP Okta RahmansyahExplaining the alleged plan for transporting the gold.

Police are processing the suspect under Indonesian laws pertaining to mining and mineral resources, which penalize those who handle, process, or sell minerals not originating from legitimate permit holders. The West Sumatra Police are committed to further developing this case, coordinating with immigration authorities and the Indian Embassy due to the involvement of a foreign national. They aim to uncover the full network behind these illegal mining and trading activities.

We are also continuing to develop the case so that the chain related to the perpetrator's activities can be revealed.

— AKBP Okta RahmansyahStating the police's commitment to further investigation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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