Uncovering the Cooking Oil Mafia

KOMPAS/KURNIA YUNITA RAHAYU

Jaksa Agung Sanitiar Burhanuddin saat mengumumkan penetapan empat tersangka korupsi izin ekspor minyak goreng di Jakarta, Selasa (19/4/2022).

The attorney general's office has detained a director general of the Trade Ministry and three individuals from private companies in an attempt to obtain palm oil export permits.

The explanation was disclosed by Attorney General ST Burhanuddin in Jakarta. The detention of four people related to the processing of export permits is like an answer to the public question about who the so-called cooking oil mafia really is.

The allegation of the existence of a cooking oil mafia was disclosed by Trade Minister M. Lutfi in a meeting with the House of Representatives (DPR). Lutfi said that he already had the names of the suspected cooking oil mafia. The Trade Ministry has submitted all the data on the alleged mafia that was hoarding cooking oil to the police. Currently, there are potential suspects who will be named.

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

Officers fill jerry cans during the weekly distribution of bulk cooking oil at Perumnas Klender Market, East Jakarta, Friday (25/2/2022).

However, in reality, it was not the police who revealed the existence of the cooking oil mafia, but the attorney general's office. What is also surprising is that one of those detained by the attorney general's office is the director general of foreign trade, Indrasari Wisnu Wardana. In addition, there are Wilmar Nabati Indonesia commissioner master Parulian Tumanggor, Permata Hijau Group senior manager corporate affairs Stanley MA and PT Musim Mas General Affairs General Manager Picare Togare Sitanggang.

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The Trade Minister in a press release stated his support for the legal process of the attorney general's office and is ready to provide needed explanations and information. Lutfi said that he had given directions to his staff to provide services in accordance with the law.

There has been no further explanation as to whether there is a practice of bribery, gratification or corruption behind the issuance of the export permits.

Citing the attorney general, the three suspects from the private sector communicated intensively with Indrasari to obtain export approval. As a result, export permits were issued for four companies. In fact, the companies had not been entitled to export approval. There has been no further explanation as to whether there is a practice of bribery, gratification or corruption behind the issuance of the export permits.

KOMPAS/NINO CITRA ANUGRAHANTO

Director General of Foreign Trade Indrasari Wisnu Wardana.

We give our appreciation to the attorney general for moving swiftly, even more rapidly than the Corruption Eradication Commission. However, the public needs an explanation: are the four people who are currently being detained the mafia, as described by the Trade Minister, or merely the executors? Is the Trade Ministry official also part of the mafia?

Following where the money goes, if corruption exists, must be done. Did the three suspects from the private sector work alone or on the orders of their superiors? And if the latter, of course accountability would involve corporate responsibility.

Finally, were the actions of the director general his personal initiative or is there another superior? All of this requires further legal investigation by the attorney general's office to clean up licensing players who are causing misery to the people. It is time for us to end all rent-seeking practice and businessman-ruler conspiracy.

(This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo)