The Islamic Students Association (HMI) Namlea Branch urges the Maluku Regional Police (Polda) to thoroughly investigate the alleged illegal levies (extortion) targeting excavator operators in the illegal gold mining areas of Gunung Nona, Kali Wapsalit, and Air Panas, Buru Regency. This illegal fund collection is strongly suspected to have been carried out by a resident with the initials A.
The Chairman of HMI Namlea Branch revealed that his party has secured recorded evidence allegedly closely related to the extortion activity. Regrettably, the individual is suspected of invoking the name of the police institution under the pretext of collecting donation funds for the commemoration of the Bhayangkara Anniversary (HUT) in Ambon in early July.
HMI urges the police to immediately conduct an internal investigation to verify the authenticity of the recording and trace the actors involved. If violations are proven, strict action in accordance with the applicable law must be taken. This is because the usurpation of the institution's name is deemed to damage the integrity of the National Police (Polri) and erode public trust in law enforcement in the Buru Island region.
In addition to focusing on the individual with the initials A, HMI also demands a thorough cleanup of all heavy equipment activities in the illegal mining area. A deep investigation is considered highly urgent to dismantle the mining mafia network that has been detrimental to the region.
To date, the local police have not provided an official statement regarding the extortion allegations. All circulating information still needs to be further proven through a professional legal process while maintaining the principle of presumption of innocence.
