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)