Rizal suspects collusion involving Bulog employees<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): State Logistics Agency (Bulog) chairman Rizal
\nRamli has ordered an investigation into how 9,300 tons of Chinese
\nrice destined for East Nusa Tenggara found its way to Lampung.<\/p>\n
During an unannounced inspection at Panjang Port in Bandar
\nLampung, Rizal said he suspected collusion between the agency's
\nemployees and private importers.<\/p>\n
\"I want to know who the culprits are within Bulog,\" he was
\nquoted by Antara as saying on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Rizal ordered the Chinese rice to be sealed until the
\nimporters who used Bulog's name were discovered.<\/p>\n
He said Bulog had contracted private companies to import rice
\non its behalf.<\/p>\n
Rizal, who assumed Bulog's top job last week, ordered a slow
\ndown in the shipment of imported rice into Indonesia to stabilize
\ndomestic prices.<\/p>\n
Rizal said he found it mindboggling that imported rice had
\ncontinued to flood the local markets in spite of a 30 percent
\nduty since January.<\/p>\n
\"The duty was supposed to have made imports expensive and
\ntherefore less profitable,\" he said.<\/p>\n
To control the flow of rice imports, Bulog has asked surveyors
\nSucofindo and the Directorate General of Customs and Excise to
\nverify the quality and quantity of every shipment.<\/p>\n
Director General of Customs and Excise Permana Agung, who
\naccompanied Rizal on the tour in Lampung, instructed the local
\ncustoms office to continue working closely with Bulog to prevent
\nabuses by importers.<\/p>\n
\"We are doing an audit on all shipments of imported rice to
\nfind out which companies imported them and how they are being
\npaid for,\" Permana said.<\/p>\n
The results of the audit, including any irregularities, will
\nbe known within two weeks, he said. (10)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rizal-suspects-collusion-involving-bulog-employees-1447893297",
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