KPN denies smuggling CPO

KPN denies smuggling CPO

MEDAN, N.Sumatra (JP): PT Karya Prajona Nelayan (KPN) has
denied that it and its subsidiary, PT Bukit Kapur Reksa, smuggled
38,374 tons of crude palm oil and its derivatives out of the Riau
port of Dumai as several newspapers here and in Jakarta reported
recently.

KPN produced letters from the chiefs of the Dumai trade and
customs offices which verified that the company did ship 20,572
tons of palm kernel oil, stearin and fatty acid through Dumai in
early January but this export was legal because at that time the
commodities had not been banned from export.

"Palm kernel oil, stearin and fatty acid were not clearly
stipulated in the Dec. 17 decree of the minister of industry and
trade on the export ban on CPO and its derivatives," KPN director
Yorfa Ahyar quoted Zulkifly Djanin, chief of the Dumai customs
office, as saying.

Yorfa also quoted a letter from Said Darlan Bakri, head of the
Dumai trade office, which endorsed the statement by Zulkifly.
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