Rizal suspects collusion involving Bulog employees

JAKARTA (JP): State Logistics Agency (Bulog) chairman Rizal Ramli has ordered an investigation into how 9,300 tons of Chinese rice destined for East Nusa Tenggara found its way to Lampung.

During an unannounced inspection at Panjang Port in Bandar Lampung, Rizal said he suspected collusion between the agency's employees and private importers.

"I want to know who the culprits are within Bulog," he was quoted by Antara as saying on Tuesday.

Rizal ordered the Chinese rice to be sealed until the importers who used Bulog's name were discovered.

He said Bulog had contracted private companies to import rice on its behalf.

Rizal, who assumed Bulog's top job last week, ordered a slow down in the shipment of imported rice into Indonesia to stabilize domestic prices.

Rizal said he found it mindboggling that imported rice had continued to flood the local markets in spite of a 30 percent duty since January.

"The duty was supposed to have made imports expensive and therefore less profitable," he said.

To control the flow of rice imports, Bulog has asked surveyors Sucofindo and the Directorate General of Customs and Excise to verify the quality and quantity of every shipment.

Director General of Customs and Excise Permana Agung, who accompanied Rizal on the tour in Lampung, instructed the local customs office to continue working closely with Bulog to prevent abuses by importers.

"We are doing an audit on all shipments of imported rice to find out which companies imported them and how they are being paid for," Permana said.

The results of the audit, including any irregularities, will be known within two weeks, he said. (10)