Enviro News Asia, Bontang — The Forestry Law Enforcement Agency (Gakkum) for the Kalimantan Region has officially named a 25-year-old man identified as AF as a suspect in an illegal Galian C mining operation inside Kutai National Park, East Kalimantan. Authorities allege that AF financed and operated several heavy excavators used to extract materials from the protected conservation area.
Head of the Kalimantan Regional Forestry Law Enforcement Office, Leonardo Gultom, announced the development in Bontang on Tuesday, 3 March 2026. He stated that the enforcement action demonstrates the government’s firm commitment to safeguarding core conservation zones from ecological destruction caused by illegal mining activities.
Leonardo emphasized that investigators will continue to expand the case to identify other individuals potentially involved. He affirmed that consistent law enforcement operations in conservation areas aim to create a deterrent effect and protect forest ecosystems from further degradation.
The case originated from a joint patrol conducted on 17 December 2025, when officers discovered suspicious excavation pits within Kutai National Park. A subsequent investigation led authorities to uncover six excavators distributed across three separate locations near the crime scene.
The seized equipment includes one Komatsu PC 195 excavator, two Komatsu PC 200 units, one Hitachi Zaxis 200 excavator, and two Hitachi Zaxis 210F excavators. Investigators believe the machinery was actively used to extract mining materials from within the national park boundaries.
Following coordination with the East Kalimantan High Prosecutor’s Office and a case review with the Special Criminal Investigation Directorate of the East Kalimantan Regional Police, authorities elevated the case to the formal investigation stage and designated AF as a suspect.
Prosecutors charged AF under Article 78 paragraphs (3) and (11) in conjunction with Article 50 paragraph (2)(a) of Law No. 6 of 2023 on Job Creation, as well as Article 21 paragraph (1) of Law No. 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code. If convicted, AF faces a maximum prison sentence of 10 years and a fine of up to Rp5 billion.
Authorities reiterated that exploitation of natural resources within protected conservation areas carries severe legal consequences and pledged to maintain strict oversight to preserve Indonesia’s national parks. (*)
