Probe on fictitious export continues

Probe on fictitious export continues

JAKARTA (JP): The government is continuing the investigation
of alleged falsification of export documents involving textile
tycoon Kim Johannes Mulia, Attorney General Singgih says.

"The investigation on Kim Johannes is not over yet. Kim is
still the prime suspect in the case of falsified export
documents," he told journalists yesterday.

Singgih also said that while the investigation continues, the
overseas travel ban the government slapped on Kim last year is
still in effect.

Last month, Singgih told the House of Representatives that the
highly publicized investigation was halted because prosecutors
did not have sufficient evidence to press criminal charges
against Kim.

Singgih told the House that since Kim had repaid the money he
was supposed to pay in export taxes and the government ultimately
suffered no financial loss, the attorney general's office
transferred the case to Bank Indonesia (the central bank) for
further investigation.

There is still a possibility to bring Kim to court for
allegedly falsifying export documents, he said after opening a
three-day meeting on general crimes at the Attorney General's
Office.

However, he said the decision to try or not to try Kim would
depend on the results of monetary authorities' investigation now
focusing on financial loss inflicted on the state and on new
information gathered by the attorney general's office.

"But corruption charges on Kim is not applicable yet because
the state suffers no financial losses," he said.

Shipment

According to the results of preliminary investigations, Kim
falsified the export documents in an effort to obtain loans from
the state-owned Bank Pembangunan Indonesia (Bapindo).

There are indications that the export documents stated that
Kim's company had shipped garments to Singapore, when no such
shipments occurred.

There were a total of 12 forged documents certifying shipments
of garments from the Jakarta port of Tanjung Priok to Singapore.

Kim has admitted to the government investigators that he
falsified export documents in an effort to obtain credit from
Bapindo. He also said that he used the credit to improve the
performance of his Bogor-based PT Detta Marina.

Singgih insisted that his office had not issued any
instructions to stop the investigation.

He told House members last month that Bank Indonesia could not
ascertain the amount of losses inflicted by Kim's actions.

In the hearing, Singgih said that Kim, owner of PT Detta
Marina, has already repaid all his debts plus interest,
totaling Rp 16 billion (US$7.3 million).

He said because the state suffered no financial loss the Anti-
Corruption Law could not be imposed and Kim was only required to
pay administrative penalties.

"We have concluded that based on our investigation and
discussion with officials from the monetary authorities Kim was
only responsible for falsifying some export documents and could
only be charged administrative fines." he said at the time. (imn)