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."