P Production forests areas designated for the utilization of forest products are vulnerable to illegal mining practices that harm both the ecosystem and the state. this study examines the criminal offense of illegal mining within a production forest area, as addressed in court decision number 496/pid.sus/2022/pn.kdi. the research addresses two issues: whether the perpetrator\\\'s actions regarding illegal mining in the production forest align with article 78 paragraph (2) in conjunction with article 50 paragraph (3) letter a of the forestry law, and how the combined offenses of illegal mining in a production forest area should be categorized. this study employs a normative legal research method with a descriptive approach, utilizing secondary data analyzed qualitatively and drawing conclusions deductively. the findings indicate that the application of the aforementioned articles was inappropriate because it failed to encompass the entirety of the defendant\\\'s actions specifically, bringing heavy machinery and conducting unauthorized mining within the forest area; consequently, the more applicable provisions are article 89 paragraph (1) letters a and b in conjunction with article 17 paragraph (1) letters a and b of the law on the prevention and eradication of forest destruction (p3h law). furthermore, the defendant\\\'s actions are categorized as a continuous act (voortgezette handeling) due to the close interconnection between the specific acts; therefore, the sentencing system that should have been applied is the absorption system (stelsel absorpsi), involving the imposition of the heaviest penalty.