

According to The Diplomat, the Indonesian government has charged Harvey Moeis, a prominent businessman in the mining sector, with corruption related to illegal tin mining operations. Moeis is accused of colluding with officials from PT Timah, a state-owned mining company, to establish unpermitted mining operations on PT Timah's concessions. While some have held that the environmental damage caused by these operations can be estimated at $26 billion, others argue this is likely exaggerated and used to draw public attention to the case. PT Timah holds numerous mining permits and extensive land rights, mainly on Bangka Belitung island. The illegal mining activities took place there, with PT Timah allegedly allowing private firms to operate on its concessions and even leasing smelting equipment to them. This case emerged after increased scrutiny following PT Timah and other mining companies consolidation under MIND ID, a state-owned holding company. PT Timah's financial struggles, including a $28 million loss in 2023, prompted closer examination of its activities, revealing the illegal mining scheme.