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