Investigating Alleged Cooking Oil Cartel, KPPU Has Called 9 Companies But Only 2 Attended

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) has raised the status of law enforcement regarding the sale or distribution of cooking oil to the investigation stage. In the process, KPPU has summoned 9 companies, but only two are willing to attend.

For your information, the sales or distribution investigation was carried out because KPPU suspected that there was a cartel in the cooking oil problem that occurred. As is known, oil prices have continued to increase since the end of 2021.

KPPU's Director of Investigation, Gopprera Panggabean, revealed that there were many parties who were reported to be investigated. KPPU has summoned the reported party for the period from 6 to 8 April. However, not all companies attended.

"There are 9 parties for the April 6-8 period, there are witnesses, producers, there are also distributors. Of the 9 summoned, only two were present," he said in a virtual press conference, Monday, April 11.

Gopprera said the companies that were present in the investigation process were PT WT and PT PMI. Meanwhile, PT Sinar Alam Permai, PT Nubika Jaya, PT Permata Hijau Sawit, PT Asianagro Agungjaya, PT GSRP, PT HM, and PT PI were not present.

Furthermore, Gopprera said that there were reasons given to KPPU why the 7 companies were not present. Therefore, the call will be rescheduled.

"We'll see if that part can be tolerated or in the form of hampering the investigation process or refusing to be examined, we'll see later," he said.

Gopprera said there was a possibility that the parties to be investigated controlled the domestic cooking oil market. According to him, there are quite a lot of reports from groups or groups of business actors suspected of controlling the market.

"So the evidence process depends on the parties, either witnesses or reporters to provide the information we need. According to our summons and the letters or documents we ask for," he said.