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.