Reuters reported that Indonesia will begin the trial of the head of the country's second biggest tin smelter over allegations that PT Koba Tin was involved in illegal mining in a protected forest. Mr Kamardin Md president director of Koba Tin has been detained since the middle of last month after an investigation by the forestry ministry into the company's mining activities in the Bangka-Belitung islands, Indonesia's main source of tin. Mr Tjahyono head of Sungai Liat court from Pangkalpinang, the provincial capital told reporters that "The trial of Kamardin Md Top will start on March 10th 2009. He is alleged to be responsible for the damage of tens of hectares of protected forest in Lubuk Besar village, Central Bangka regency, as a result of tin mining.” But Malaysia Smelting Corporation Bhd, which hold a 75% stake in Koba Tin, in a statement on February 18th 2009, said that the company's tin dredge had ceased operations in that area in October 2002 due to exhaustion of reserves. It added that "It had since been kept under care and maintenance basis with the approval of the Directorate General of Energy and Mineral Resources."
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