Medan airport authorities seize Rp 271 million

MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): Security officials at Medan's Polonia airport seized Rp 271 million from six separate passengers leaving for Singapore Saturday, because they allegedly broke a 34-year-old law prohibiting people from carrying more than Rp 50,000 (US$3.33) abroad.

Four of the passengers were Indonesians: Amat To of Kota Bangun II, from Medan, was carrying Rp 30 million; Budi Santoso of Deli Serdang, had Rp 50 million; while local resident Saenam Taniadi had Rp 31 million. The fourth was only identified as a mother carrying Rp 100 million.

The two others were Malaysians: Ruzana binti Oman was carrying Rp 40 million and Rahibin Ahmad was found with Rp 20 million.

The head of Polonia airport security, Richard Maail, told The Jakarta Post Saturday that the money was seized based on an instruction from the director general of customs and excise, Soehardjo.

All passengers heading abroad would be questioned if they were taking more than Rp 50,000 with them, Richard said.

He explained that radiogram No. RDG-02/BC/1998 dated Jan. 16 had been received instructing a search of those suspected of carrying more than Rp 50,000 out of the country.

The radiogram was referring to law No. 32/1964 which prohibits a person from physically transporting Rp 50,000 in cash out of the country.

But the 1964 law has rarely been exercised in recent years.

Richard said the money had been hidden by the passengers in various concealed locations, such as their socks, and small waist and thigh pouches.

"We became suspicious after seeing the strange way they walked," he noted.

Richard said that one of those detained was stopped after officers suspected his heavily shaped gut as he went through airport security. When officers stopped and searched him, they found his waist was bandaged with little money pouches "neatly wrapped and fastened together with scotch tape."

All the six passengers were enroute to Singapore, taking either a Garuda Indonesia or SilkAir flight.

Heated arguments were seen as officers confiscated the money. Some of those questioned refused to hand it over.

"Do not take my money. I'll shout out that you're robbers!" threatened one of the desperate passengers. Another said that he needed to take the money for his children who was studying abroad.

All of them were forced to delay their departures to undergo further questioning.

Soehardjo's instruction to search those suspected of carrying more than Rp 50,000 has sparked some controversy.

Some pointed out that for many years the government claimed it allowed free flows of foreign and local exchange.

But Bank Indonesia director Miranda Gultom defended Soehardjo's decision.

She was recently quoted by Kompas as saying that the order circulated by the director general of customs and excise really referred to those carrying more than Rp 3 million; and that they should declare the money to customs and excise officers.

"There is only an obligation to report rupiah and not foreign currencies," Gultom said.

She claimed the measure had nothing to do with the foreign exchange regime.

"(Besides) What do they need to take such large amounts of rupiah abroad for anyway?," she remarked.

Richard said that an attempt to take out Rp 2.9 billion from Soekarno-Hatta Airport was foiled on Tuesday. (21/prb)