North Sumatra governor orders investigation of truck smuggling
North Sumatra governor orders investigation of truck smuggling
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan
North Sumatra Governor T. Rizal Nurdin ordered law enforcers here
to immediately conduct an investigation into several officials of
the local customs and excise office and certain businessmen
allegedly involved in the recent import of 150 trucks from Japan
and Taiwan. The trucks were allegedly imported without the
necessary tax being paid.
According to the governor, the illegal import of hundreds of
trucks through Belawan seaport into the province, had caused
losses to the state and threatened the domestic market.
"An investigation into those responsible is a must. But I
insist that it be conducted properly. The prosecutor's office
should not overreact," Rizal told The Jakarta Post when asked to
comment on the case here on Tuesday.
Based on data received by the Post from PT Pelabuhan Belawan
seaport on Monday, some 64 trucks from Japan entered Indonesia
through Belawan Seaport in Medan, aboard two tanker ships TB Sin
Huat 88 and Sin Huat 188. They were reportedly part of a planned
shipment of some 2,000 trucks that would flood the country.
The trucks cost Rp 200 million (US$22,222) to Rp 350 million
per unit. It was unclear whether the prices included tax or not.
But Supratigya, head of the local customs and excise office,
asserted that the import of the trucks was done with the approval
of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
"I can guarantee that we have not violated existing
regulations," Supratigya told the Post recently.
Meanwhile, Chairuman Harahap, chief of the North Sumatra
Prosecutor's Office, said that his team was still investigating
the case.
A member of staff of the local excise and tax office who
handled the trucks' entry has been questioned, along with three
businessmen namely Alung, 43, Ahok, 40, and Benny, 43, who were
involved in bringing the trucks into the country, Chairuman said.
He said, however, that none of these witnesses had been
declared as a suspect, saying that "we are seeking further
clarification from the customs and excise office to determine
whether or not there were irregularities."