New system planned to nab bad customs officials<\/p>\n
Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Finance plans to issue a decree to form a new
\nimport supervisory system that will allow the newly established
\ncustoms watchdog to randomly inspect imported goods at all
\nseaports after being released by the customs office.<\/p>\n
The inspection is aimed at helping curb smuggling and
\nundervaluation practices and to nab corrupt customs officials.<\/p>\n
Head of the customs reform program at the Directorate General
\nof Customs and Excise Nofrial told The Jakarta Post on Monday
\nthat the system was part of the government's plan to evaluate the
\nperformance of the customs office.<\/p>\n
\"Imported goods that have been cleared by the customs office
\nwould be inspected physically by the customs watchdog team
\nshortly after the goods leave the port,\" said Nofrial.<\/p>\n
The system, called \"Spot Check\", is slated to start April 1.<\/p>\n
Nofrial said if the team found any irregularities then they
\nwould apprehend both the importer and the truck driver who
\ncarried the goods and track down the customs officials who helped
\nin the clearance process.<\/p>\n
The unscrupulous importers and the truck driver, said Nofrial,
\nwould be directly handed over to the police while the customs
\nofficials would be given severe administrative sanctions
\nincluding demotion or dismissal.<\/p>\n
The customs watchdog comprises officials from the Inspectorate
\nGeneral of the Ministry of Finance, the National Ombudsman and
\nthe National Police.<\/p>\n
Customs officials will not be involved in the inspection
\nprocess and there will be no prior notice given to the director
\ngeneral of customs about the spot inspection.<\/p>\n
Nofrial further said that the head of a customs office could
\neven be removed if found to be involved in granting a customs
\nclearance for illegal goods or in undervaluation practices.<\/p>\n
To date, the head of a customs service office is the last
\nperson in the hierarchy who authorizes the clearance of imported
\ngoods.<\/p>\n
The customs office has been criticized for years for its
\nfailure to curb smuggling and undervaluation practices. The
\nagency has long been suspected of colluding with smugglers.<\/p>\n
Numerous systems and attempts to curb such practices have been
\nlaunched over the past two years, however no concrete results
\nhave transpired.<\/p>\n
Many businessmen suspect that government policies and systems
\nto curb smuggling and undervaluation practices are mere window
\ndressing to improve the tarnished image of the corruption-
\ninfested customs offices.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/new-system-planned-to-nab-bad-customs-officials-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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