New suspect in Cirebon smuggling case

New suspect in Cirebon smuggling case

CIREBON, West Java: The Cirebon prosecutor's office in West Java has named a new suspect in a high-profile case involving the smuggling of 19 containers containing luxury cars and electronic goods via the city's seaport.

"Previously there was only one suspect, namely the president director of PT Tiang Grage, Soenarko Kasidin. There are now two suspects. The other one has the initials HAN," said the prosecutor's office's director for general crimes, Haryono, on Saturday.

He said the decision to charge HAN was based on the outcome of investigations by the local customs and excise office into the smuggling case.

Cirebon legislative council speaker Suryana, meanwhile, blasted the investigation as no single customs official had been charged.

"We are of the opinion that they (the prosecutors) have not been serious in their work. How is it possible that there are no suspects from the customs and excise office, though they are clearly involved in the whole thing?" he asked.

"The charges are useless if they don't include the smugglers and officials from the customs and excise office ... it looks like a state within a state because they are untouchable by the law," he added. --JP