Reassessing Judicial Considerations in Cases of Collection and Refining of Illegal Gold: An Ecological Justice-Based Analysis of Palangka Raya District Court Decision Number 366/Pid.Sus-LH/2024/PN Plk

This study aims to analyse the judicial considerations in Decision of the Palangka Raya District Court Number 366/Pid.Sus-LH/2024/PN Plk concerning the criminal offense of collecting and refining gold derived from illegal mining activities (unlicensed mining/PETI). The research employs a normative juridical method, utilizing both statutory and case approaches. The analysis focuses on the construction of the perpetrator’s criminal liability and the conformity of the court’s reasoning with the principles of ecological justice. The findings indicate that the panel of judges formally applied the provisions stipulated in Law on Mineral and Coal Mining (Minerba Law) and the Law on Environmental Protection and Management by establishing the elements of the actus reus and mens rea. However, the judicial reasoning remains oriented toward the normative fulfilment of the elements of the offense and has not explicitly integrated an ecological justice approach as a foundational basis for sentencing. Although the decision reflects legal certainty, it does not fully strengthen the function of criminal law as an instrument for environmental protection. Therefore, it is necessary to reinforce the paradigm of ecological justice within judicial reasoning to ensure the effectiveness of law enforcement against the chain of illegal mining crimes.