RJ Lino testifies as witness in alleged graft case

PT Pelindo II President Director Richard Joost Lino honored the National Polices Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) investigators summons on Monday for questioning as witness in a graft case involving fixed crane-type loading and unloading equipments purchase.

"Later, I should come in," Lino stated when questioned by several journalists at the Bareskrim office here on Monday.

Lino expressed his readiness to undergo interrogation.

"I am ready to testify as a witness," he noted.

Earlier, during a two-month-long investigation, the police had uncovered irregularities in the procurement of 10 cranes in 2012 worth Rp45 billion.

The cranes were scheduled to be sent to eight seaports across the country by this year, but none had arrived.

The investigators discovered that most of the seaports did not need any new cranes.

Meanwhile, the investigators have questioned 24 witnesses in connection with suspected corruption in the procurement of 10 mobile cranes by PT Pelindo II.

The investigators also seized documents in relation to the purchase of the 10 cranes and a notebook.

Earlier, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Rizal Ramli had criticized Lino during a meeting with the House of Representatives Special Committee (Pansus), which is probing alleged corruption in the state-owned port operator.

Rizal criticized the system of management and financial performance of the company under Lino.

He pointed out that Lino had bragged about profits recorded by Pelindo II when the company was not even included in the list of 20 state companies recording the largest profits.

"He (Lino) claimed to have chalked up the largest profits, which is not true. Pelindo II is not among the 20 state companies reporting high profits," Rizal informed members of Pansus.

He clarified that Pelindo II ranked behind PT KAI (state railway company), which posted Rp591 billion in net profit and pawnshop Pegadaian, with a profit of Rp1.6 trillion, and Pelindo III, which posted Rp640 billion in net profit.

"How come Pelindo II is bragging (good performance)," he questioned.

He said Pelindo II, which has a much larger market share, should not be lagging behind Pelindo III.

Rizal said the system of management in Pelindo II did not follow the right order and described the system as disorganized.

Citing an example, he explained that container ships were not served based on the principle of "first come, first served."

"Lino said Pelindo II has its own system to suit clients. It is downright foolish, very bad, and highly inconceivable. It would force several ships to wait for as long as seven days," he emphasized.

The system contributed to the lengthy storage time at Tanjung Priok, he affirmed.

Rizal also raised criticism over the extension of contract with Jakarta International Container Terminal (JICT), saying the contracts extension was against several regulations, including the Law on shipping.

He said the extension was granted before the termination of the old contract.
Source: ANTARA