MAKI Reports 9 Companies Allegedly Involved In Cooking Oil Cartel To KPPU

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Anti-Corruption Society (MAKI) reported nine companies suspected of being involved in the cooking oil cartel. This report is submitted to the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) via email.

"MAKI through the complaint email channel to KPPU has submitted data to strengthen KPPU's investigation regarding the alleged karte or monopoly of CPO or cooking oil which has made cooking oil scarce and expensive in Indonesia for the past three months," said MAKI Coordinator Boyamin Saiman in a written statement, Saturday, April 2nd.

In the report, there are a number of data submitted. First, the nine big companies are suspected of exporting crude palm oil (CPO) abroad on a large scale.

The mode used is by not paying a value added tax (VAT) of 10 percent from Bonded Logistics Center facilities on the island of Sumatra.

Second, there is one foreign company, namely VODF PTE Ltd. who bought CPO from the nine companies with a transaction value of Rp1.1 billion. Boyamin said the company was based in neighboring Southeast Asia.

In addition, MAKI also attaches an explanation of the alleged game flow to avoid VAT of 10 percent from the Bonded Logistics Center area facilities because CPO is directly sold abroad without going through the industrial process as stipulated in the bonded zone.

Boyamin said that the KPPU had received the email and replied to it. The agency asked MAKI to submit a written report.

"At the request of KPPU to complete a written report, MAKI will submit it next week," he concluded.