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. (21)