Port police seize $1m shipment goods

JAKARTA (JP): Tanjung Priok Port Police have arrested three men and confiscated millions of rupiah from them for their alleged roles in a recent robbery of 10 empty wooden shipment containers and diesel engines worth Rp 7 billion (US$1 million) from a warehouse at the port, an officer said on Friday.

Tanjung Priok Port Police chief Lt. Col. Edward Aritonang identified the three suspects as Irwan Mizar, an employee of state-owned port operator PT Pelindo II who was posted at the company's Container Terminal gate, Rozak, a guard at the port, and Jhoni Kainama, who allegedly helped in the fencing of the stolen goods.

"The goods belong to a company called PT Angsa Daya here," Edward told reporters.

He said the goods were shipped from Sweden for local industrial needs and were stored at the port's warehouse.

"PT Angsa Daya had not yet finished completing the official permits to get the goods out. It was during this time that the three suspects used fake documents and managed to get the goods out," Aritonang said.

"They then sold these goods to a fence called Sakatah Karis form North Jakarta for Rp 650 million."

"We then investigated the case and found Sakatah. We seized all the goods from him before finally identifying the whereabouts of the three suspects."

Aritonang added that it would take some time to return Sakatah's money to him. (ylt)