The Attorney General's Office Investigates Allegations Of HS Code Manipulation By Private Sector In Gold Case

JAKARTA - The Junior Attorney General Investigator for Special Crimes (Jampidsus) at the Attorney General's Office is investigating the involvement of two private companies in connection with the alleged manipulation of the Harmonized System or HS code for export and import activities of gold commodities to avoid taxes.

The two private companies allegedly involved in manipulating the HS code, namely PT Untung Bersama Sejahtera (UBS) and PT Indah Golden Signature (IGS).

"We are still exploring (the involvement of IGS and UBS), one of which is yes (manipulation of the HS code). We are currently reviewing it, we are looking for sufficient evidence," said the Head of the Sub-Directorate for Investigation of Corruption and Money Laundering Crimes at the Attorney General's Office Haryoko Ari Prabowo, reported by ANTARA, Monday, August 14.

According to him, the involvement of the two companies is part of the focus of the investigation into alleged corruption cases related to the management of the gold commodity business for the 2010-2022 period. From the investigation that was carried out, the case was related to gold export and import activities.

"We are still exploring this. The investigation process is still long, he said.

Investigators carried out an in-depth study to determine whether the gold export-import matter was included in a customs crime or not a corruption crime.

"Because of customs, the slices are very thin," he said.

An in-depth investigation by the investigating prosecutor is needed because based on the studies conducted there are many modes used in relation to the alleged gold export-import case.

"So, the issue of gold imports is not limited to that. One of them is indeed (HS code)," said Prabowo.

In this case investigators have examined a number of witnesses, from the ministry, the private sector to PT Antam.

On Thursday (10/8), investigators examined four witnesses, one of which was a former director of PT Antam, who is none other than the father of Menpora Dito Ariotedjo.

Arie Prabowo Ariotedjo (APA), former Main Director of PT Antam was questioned along with three other witnesses, namely Basofi as the Head of the Non-P2T Licensing Section for the Investment Service of East Java Province in 2015-2016 and Anis as the Head of the Investment Sector of BPPT Sidoarjo Regency, and Mufti Arkan as Civil servants at the Directorate General of Customs and Excise.

Today, investigators examined two witnesses, namely P as a Technical Staff of the East Java Province Industry and Trade Service and LO as a marketing adviser to PT Hartono Wira Tanik.

Head of the Attorney General's Legal Information Center, Ketut Sumedana, previously said that the Jampidsus investigation team had raised the status of the alleged corruption case related to the management of gold commodity business activities in 2010-2022 from investigation to investigation.

The increase, in this case, was based on an investigation warrant Number: Prin-14/F.2/Fd.2/05/2023 dated 10 May 2023. Before raising the status of this case, the team of investigators first held a case. From the title of the case that was carried out, the investigating prosecutor found two sufficient pieces of evidence to elevate the status of this case to investigation.

Prosecutors also conducted searches in several places. Among them, in Pulogadung, East Jakarta. Pondok Gede, Bekasi, West Java. Then, Cinere-Depok, West Java.

Then there were searches in Pondok Aren, South Tangerang, and Surabaya, East Java. In Surabaya, the investigation team searched PT UBS located in Tambaksari, and PT IGS in Genteng.

The alleged corruption case related to the gold commodity was discussed in the DPR Commission III meeting with the Coordinating Committee for the Eradication and Prevention of ML.

During the meeting, Sri Mulyani explained the case of gold imports worth hundreds of trillions. This money is part of a suspicious transaction worth IDR 349 trillion. There are transactions that stand out in the total transactions. One of them, a letter with the number SR-205 due to financial transactions at the Directorate General of Customs and Excise with a fantastic amount of IDR 189 trillion.