Former East Java ESDM Chief Charged With Receiving Rp4.09 Billion in Mining Permit Extortion

Former Head of the East Java Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Office, Aris Mukiyono, faces charges of receiving Rp4.09 billion in bribes from illegal levies in the processing of mining and groundwater permits. The indictment was read at the first hearing at the Surabaya Corruption Court (Tipikor) on Wednesday (14/10).

Prosecutors Demy Febriana and Iwan Nuzuardi argue that Aris abused his authority to extort permit applicants within the East Java ESDM Office. According to the prosecutors, the kickbacks were collected so that the issuance of technical recommendations, Mining Business Area Permits (WIUP), Exploration Mining Business Permits (IUP), and Production Operation IUPs would proceed more smoothly and quickly.

"The defendant used his authority in the disposition, evaluation, examination, approval, and signing of licensing documents to request and receive sums of money from permit applicants," Iwan said in the Cakra courtroom. He added that the licensing documents were processed through the East Java ESDM Office before being forwarded to the East Java Investment and One-Stop Integrated Services Office (DPMPTSP).

The case also implicates two other officials at the East Java ESDM Office: Hermawan, Head of the Groundwater Utilization Work Team, and Ertika Dinawati, Head of the Geology and Groundwater Division. Both are named as intermediaries in the fund flows. Prosecutors revealed that the money received had no official collection basis and was not reported to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) as required by applicable regulations.

For his actions, Aris is charged with violating Article 12(e) of Law No. 31 of 1999 as amended by Law No. 20 of 2001 on the Eradication of Corruption, juncto Article 18 and Article 20 of Law No. 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code, as well as Article 12B (gratification) juncto Article 18 of the Corruption Law. He is also deemed to have contravened his obligations under the mineral and coal mining law and the water resources law.

In response to the case, presiding judge Cokia Ana Pontia decided to hold intensive hearings with a schedule of three times a week—Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. "Because there will be many witnesses to present, hearings will be held 3 times a week," Cokia said, closing the session. The step was taken to speed up the evidentiary process given the complexity of the case and the number of witnesses to be summoned.

Previously, the East Java High Prosecutor's Office investigation also named Ony Setiawan as a party involved. However, legal proceedings against Ony were halted after he died in custody. Ony's death leaves questions about the supervision of detainees and the potential loss of key information in this case.

The illegal levy case in East Java's mining permits highlights governance gaps in the ESDM sector that are prone to corruption. Bribery in licensing not only harms the state but also creates injustice for businesses that comply with the rules. Inherent oversight and transparency in the licensing process remain a major task for local governments and the KPK.

Going forward, the public will be watching whether these intensive hearings can uncover a wider extortion network, including the possible involvement of other parties. The big question: how deeply has this illicit practice taken root in the natural resource licensing bureaucracy, and will the eventual verdict deter perpetrators?