Police completing file on Nurdin

JAKARTA: The National Police appear to be accelerating their investigation of a sugar smuggling case allegedly involving the chairman of the Indonesian Cooperatives Association, Nurdin Halid.

Economic Crimes Unit chief Brig. Gen. Andi Chaeruddin said on Wednesday that the police would soon question more witnesses, including officers from the Association of Indonesian Sugar Plantation Growers, registered importers, and export company PT Phoenix, as well as expert witnesses from the Ministry of Trade.

"We expect to complete his case file before his detention period expires on November 26," Andi said.

Nurdin is accused of involvement in the illegal importation of 73,000 tons of sugar from Thailand earlier this year. -- Antara