Customs and excise office reshuffle draws protest

Customs and excise office reshuffle draws protest

JAKARTA (JP): The recent removal of Jakarta Customs and Excise
Office chief Roy Lino has raised many eyebrows, with city
councilor Santayana Kiemas accusing the central government of
defying the spirit of regional autonomy.

Santayana of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) claimed on Friday that neither he nor other
councilors had been consulted or informed about the replacement.

"A changing of the guard in a provincial-level office should
have not been conducted quietly, now that regional autonomy has
taken effect," said Santayana, who is the City Council deputy
speaker.

Minister of Finance Prijadi Praptosuhardjo announced on
Tuesday a major reshuffle in his office, which included the
replacement of Roy with Endang Tata. Roy was promoted to
assistant to the director general of customs and excise.

Santayana, a brother-in-law of Vice President Megawati
Soekarnoputri, said the City Council would file a protest with
the Ministry of Home Affairs and Regional Autonomy over the case.

He suspected that Roy's dismissal came after a request from
Director General of Customs and Excise Permana Agung.

Santayana also suggested that the central government hand over
the management of Tanjung Priok Port to the city administration
in a bid to increase city revenue.

He estimated the city would earn between Rp 7 trillion and Rp
8 trillion (between US$736 million and $842 million) from all
businesses inside the port. The city collects an average Rp 3.4
trillion in revenue annually.

"Under the new scheme the city could contribute half of the
income from the port management to the state budget," Santayana
said.

Separately, Roy refused to comment on his removal from the
Jakarta Customs and Excise Office.

"Let the people judge, because I never dreamed of what I would
be. It's more important for me to do my best for the sake of the
government and the nation," he was quoted by Antara on Friday.

He said that during his six-month tenure, his office had
uncovered 23 inaccurate import documents.

On Friday the office seized 22 containers containing diesel
engines and electronic goods imported from China and Korea which
did not have a proper invoice, Roy said.

The invoice stated that the goods were imported by PT
Trisarana Karya Mandiri, but when the Customs and Excise Office
requested that import tax for the shipment be paid, the company
claimed it had not ordered the merchandise.

Another company, PT Elmanda Kharisma, then claimed the goods,
Roy said, adding that an executive of the company was being
questioned.

Roy also said his office had yet to seal off 95 containers
seized for inaccurate documents during his brief tenure. (amd)