"Mr. Firli (Bahuri) asked me (about the case), and I say, 'investigate from the sources.' It will not be difficult," Pandjaitan said after attending a discussion on the National Strategy on Corruption Prevention at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Headquarters here on Tuesday.
In response to KPK's findings of suspected illegal exports of 5.2 million tons of nickel ore to China, he stressed that the agency led by Bahuri has the appropriate apparatuses to investigate the matter.
"It is easy because we already have the ecosystem; Mr. Firli can promptly examine it in China. Just wait," the minister emphasized.
He highlighted that one of the aspects that have supported the KPK's work is digitalization, which has allowed the agency to conduct cross-border tracing activities.
On July 6, 2023, KPK's deputy for prevention and monitoring, Pahala Nainggolan, confirmed that his side is coordinating with the Directorate General of Customs and Excise to investigate suspected illegal exports.
KPK is examining the relevant harmonized system (HS) code numbers associated with the suspected nickel exports, he said.
HS is a systematic classification of objects developed to support the determination of tariffs, financial transactions, shipping, and statistics, Nainggolan explained.
The anti-graft agency is also clarifying the findings from relevant authorities and improving the Mineral and Coal Information System (Simbara) system, he added.
Indonesia has enforced a nickel ore export ban since January 1, 2020, through the Energy and Mineral Resources Minister's Regulation No. 11 of 2019. The country has also imposed a bauxite export ban since June 2023 and plans to prohibit raw copper shipments later.
The export prohibition aims to increase the raw commodities' added value and encourage the development of the national downstreaming industry.
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Translator: Fianda Sjofjan R, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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