Four caught with 204 kg gold bullion
Four caught with 204 kg gold bullion
TANGERANG (JP): Customs officers at Soekarno-Hatta
International Airport have arrested four men for attempting to
smuggle 204.05 kilograms of gold bullion to Singapore.
Director General of Customs and Excise Soehardjo said
yesterday that the four were arrested Sunday at the airport's
Gate E (for overseas routes).
"The suspects were arrested because they attempted to take the
gold, which has a value of at least Rp 14 billion (US$1.5
million), out of the country without any official documents to
guarantee its status," Soehardjo, who was accompanied by Attorney
General Singgih, told a media conference.
By law, gold of a certain weight, which Soehardjo did not
specify, should be accompanied by legal documents, such as export
documents or certificates from state mining company PT Aneka
Tambang, he said.
The four suspects, all of whom are locals, were only
identified as ATJ, KM, HL, and KR, aged between 37 and 57.
Judging from their identity cards, the first three are
residents of Jambi, Sumatra. The origin of the fourth person is
unknown.
Soehardjo said that documents which the suspects had on them
were insufficient to export the gold.
He said KR had a license issued by a private company named PT
Monas Indah Sejati, while the other three suspects had licenses
from their company PT Karya Budi Indah.
He said it was possible that the suspects had often exported
gold bullion without having legal licenses.
Sunday's arrest and seizure is thought to be the largest
single haul ever recorded in Indonesia against gold smugglers.
Soehardjo said the gold was found in 177 rectangular blocks
and 77 egg-shaped blocks.
The gold was hidden by ATJ, KM and HL in their hand luggage.
It was found by officials who became suspicious of the six bags
which appeared very heavy.
The three were arrested after they met KR, who had allegedly
organized their flights to Singapore, he said.
The four, he said, were listed as passengers on Garuda
Indonesia flight GA-962 to Singapore.
When asked to comment, Attorney General Singgih lambasted the
four men's conduct.
"They should not have done it. They should not have tried to
take gold out of the country at this time when Indonesia is
facing a monetary crisis, let alone without the proper documents
to accompany the delivery," he said.
He questioned why the gang tried to smuggle the gold out at
the same time as other people are handing theirs over to the
government to help solve the economic crisis.
Singgih said gold was an important asset which should be
protected, especially in time of monetary crisis.
Permission from the Governor of Bank Indonesia must be
obtained before a company can export gold bullion, he said.
"The crime committed by the four could be categorized as an
act of subversion, corruption and manipulation of gold exporting
quotas," he said without further elaboration.
The suspects could be charged under the subversion or
corruption Laws, Singgih stressed.
Both laws stipulate a maximum penalty of death or prison terms
of life or 20 years in jail.
Singgih said he would order his staff to further investigate
the gang's motives and the source of the gold. (41/cst)