Police criticize customs officials

JAKARTA (JP): Tanjung Priok Seaport (KP3) Police in North Jakarta believe that Customs and Excise officials at the port could have played a significant role in helping people smuggle dissembled cars into the country, an officer said on Monday.

KP3 police chief, Col. Edward Aritonang, said he still had no definite proof but doubted there was a legitimate reason as to why customs officials would allow dissembled cars and machines to pass inspection.

He admitted that the prevailing law allows importers to import automobile spare parts or car wrecks.

"But it (the customs office) should have to examine the pieces thoroughly first. It doesn't mean that people can cut up or break down new cars or luxury ones into pieces and then import them as automobile spare parts," Edward said.

The officer was referring to the confiscation by his men on Thursday last week of 67 luxury cars, all of which had been dissembled, giving the impression that they were imported spare parts or the wrecks of used cars.

The car pieces, mostly of Mercedez-Benz, Nissan and Toyota, were found inside different containers in the port compound. They were shipped from Japan and Malaysia.

Some of the cars had been cut precisely into two pieces. According to Aritonang, the two pieces would be welded by the owners later before selling the vehicles to interested parties.

When asked to comment, the head of the port's Customs and Excise Office, Muhammad Zein, hastily dismissed the police accusation.

"Some importers have a permit from the Ministry of Trade and Industry to recondition used cars imported from overseas," he said.

"We checked their documents, which were complete ... so we released them," he added.

"If they (the importers) plan to weld the pieces together to make a brand new car, well ... do we have to accept accountability for that?" Zein asked.

Some of the evidence is being kept at the KP3 office at the port. (09)