Govt to probe export document scandal fully
Govt to probe export document scandal fully
JAKARTA (JP): Attorney General Singgih promised Saturday that
the scandalous falsification of export documents that caused the
state to lose millions of dollars in unpaid taxes will be
thoroughly investigated.
"We mean to unravel the scandal and spare no one involved in
it from legal actions," Singgih told reporters after opening a
seminar on youth and law co-organized by his office and the
University of Indonesia.
He made the remarks in response to reporters' questions about
the newly discovered falsification of export documents involving
two subsidiaries of PT Detta Marina and a private bank.
PT Detta Marina is a garment export company owned by
businessman Kim Johannes Mulia, who is currently being
investigated in connection with the bogus export documents
scandal.
Two of its subsidiaries, PT Indoniarta Utama and PT
Karindaraya Jaya, reportedly issued five export documents worth
Rp 6.5 billion ($2.9 million) which were approved by the bank.
The shipments of the garments were never recorded at the Jakarta
port of Tanjung Priok.
Previously, PT Detta Marina had issued a total of 12 forged
documents certifying shipments of garments from Tanjung Priok to
Singapore. However, Kim has repaid the amounts stated in the
documents, worth a total of Rp 16 billion ($7.3 million).
According to the results of preliminary investigations leaked
to the press, Kim falsified the export documents in an effort to
obtain loans from the state-owned Bank Pembangunan Indonesia
(Bapindo).
The probe has found indications that the export documents
stated that Kim's company had shipped garments to Singapore, when
no such shipments occurred.
Kim has admitted to the government investigators that he
falsified export documents in an effort to obtain credit from
Bapindo, sources at the Attorney General's Office said.
Performance
Kim also reportedly said that he used the credit to improve
the performance of his Bogor-based PT Detta Marina.
The government has slapped an overseas travel ban on Kim, who
also operates his business from Singapore, until the
investigation is completed. He has yet to be arrested.
"We cannot just arrest him without hard evidence of a crime,
because this would have an impact on the investigation results,"
Singgih said.
The authorities must also consider other aspects, such as the
welfare of the company's employees, before taking action. The
most important thing is that those involved in the scandal have
to be held responsible, he added.
Singgih said those involved in forging the export documents
will be brought to trial, adding that his office will not
hesitate to do so although it may involve government officials.
A former deputy attorney general, whose identity is being
withheld, is reportedly a member of the board of commissioners at
PT Detta Marina. (imn)