Sugar scam a crime against humanity

Contrary to Ministry of Industry and Trade Rini MS Soewandi's protestations that 56,000 tons of sugar were imported into the country illegally, a number of defense lawyers are saying the sugar imports in question cannot be categorized as illegal.

The debate stems from the government's policy to stop sugar imports as of April 30. Importers, however, have interpreted the government's deadline as being the date on which the sugar was shipped.

Police have arrested a suspect in the illegal sugar case and accused him of having forged importation documents. They have also questioned Abduk Waris Halid, the trade division head of the Main Village Unit Cooperative (Inkud), in the case.

Inkud, the alleged owner of the illegal sugar, was engaged in the sugar import business by virtue of its cooperation with state plantation company PTPN X, one of a number of companies the government appointed to handle sugar importation.

If the police want to resolve the matter of illegal sugar importation thoroughly they should also investigate the possible involvement of officials of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Customs and Excise Office, as well as the importers.

The illegal importation of sugar in huge quantities in which many parties are involved should be seen as a crime against humanity.

It is no secret that the government's trading systems often serve as sources of political slush funds. -- Media Indonesia, Jakarta