Seized cars given to government offices

Seized cars given to government offices

Fadli, The Jakarta Post, Batam

The Batam Customs Office is delivering 24 seized cars to
government offices on the island, part of the Riau Islands
province, an official said on Thursday.

The head of the customs office, Padmoyo Tri Wikanto, told The
Jakarta Post the cars were seized over the last several years
when parties attempted to smuggle them into Batam.

He said the cars, of different makes and models, would be
given to government offices for their use. The Batam offices of
the National Intelligence Agency, the Corruption Eradication
Commission and the Riau Islands provincial administration have
all received vehicles.

Padmoyo said this move was made possible by the issuance of a
Ministry of Finance Decree, dated Oct. 19 this year, that allows
customs offices to give seized vehicles to government offices.

The Batam office of the National Intelligence Agency has taken
delivery of five vehicles -- a 2003 Mercedes Benz, a 1990
Mercedes Benz, two 1997 Nissan Sunnys and a Nissan Sentra.

The Corruption Eradication Commission received one vehicle and
the provincial administration five vehicles. Two cars were
delivered to the Batam city administration, one to the Batam
Prosecutor's Office and four to the Batam Customs Office. There
are no details on where the remaining vehicles will go.

"This is based on an existing finance ministry decree. There
is no need to make a big deal out of it, making the customs
office look like Santa Claus," Padmoyo said.

He said his office was still in possession of another 100
cars, which were seized following the issuance of a government
regulation prohibiting the importation of used cars to Batam.

Governor Ismeth Abdullah has issued a proposal to the Ministry
of Finance to allow the provincial administration take ownership
of the 100 vehicles.