City discovers signature forgery case

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The city administration revealed on Monday that it had discovered a forged document involving taxi operator PT Primer Metro Transindo.

Fauzi Bowo told reporters that his signature had been forged on a document that allowed the firm to operate its taxis in the capital, which has been closed to new taxi companies due to an over-supply in the city.

The fake document, however, had been processed by the City Transportation Agency without being checked or verified, and currently the company is operating 50 taxis of the total 300 permitted in the forged document.

"I regret the case as the relevant agency should have followed up with proper checks and verification," Fauzi said at City Hall.

The City Audit Agency had been ordered to look into the matter to see whether city officials were implicated in the fraud.

"We reported the case to police on April, 8. Hopefully, they will soon solve the case and round up the suspects," he added.

The fake document was dated Oct. 8, 2003 and required the company to submit other necessary documents with the City Transportation Agency and the City Investment Coordinating Board (BKPMD).

City Law Office head Deded Sukandar said that his office had checked the authenticity of the signature with relevant agencies and confirmed that the document was a fake.

"This is not the first forgery case. Last year, we discovered that the signature of the City Secretary had been forged," Deded said, adding that the case was now under police investigation and that the suspect was in custody.

The administration had announced that it would not give approval for any new taxi companies to operate in the city in order to ease competition among the 22,000 cabs already operating, not including cabs from towns on the outskirts of the capital.

PT Primer Metro Transindo, which owns the white Primer taxi cabs, denied that the document was fake.

"From what source did the Deputy Governor get the information that the document was fake?" said company president director Rudy Luhur.

Rudi, however, declined to comment further on the issue.

City Transportation Agency head Rustam Effendy Sidabutar acknowledged that his agency had issued a recommendation to the company that it obtain approval from the administration.

"However, we have not issued any operation permit so far," Rustam said, adding that he would summons the company's executives to seek clarifications.