JAKARTA – Four cooking oil manufacturers refuses to attend the investigation summon regarding the cooking oil manufacture and production cartel last week (6-8/4). Thus, the Indonesian Competition Commission (lit. Komisi Pengawas Persaingan Usaha/KPPU) will reschedule the summoning of those witnesses in the case investigation.
Gopprera Panggabean, Investigation Director of KPPU, mentioned that there have been indications of various violations in the cooking oil cartel case since the investigation began on March 30, 2022. “The said violations include price fixing with an organised price trend, alleged cartel practices in manufacturing and distribution of cooking oil, and alleged cooking oil market restriction,” he specified in the press release quoted today (12/4).
Throughout the investigation process, KPPU has summoned nine parties, asking them for their statements. However, seven of them failed to show up. Four companies out of those seven are revealed to be PT Sinar Alam Permai, PT Nubika Jaya, PT Permata Hijau Sawit, and PT Asianagro Agungjaya.
According to Panggabean, KPPU will demand their presence once again to evaluate the the fairness or to confirm the indication of obstructing the investigation process. “Then, we will call ten other parties, including distributor, manufacturer, and packaging companies to collect evidence,” he revealed the plan.
Panggabean also urged the summoned parties to be present and cooperative so that the investigation is not dragged, referring to Article 44 Law No.5/1999. “The business owners are prohibited from refusing to be investigated or refusing to disclose information in the investigation process as they might be handed over to investigators to be searched,” he asserted. (LK/ZH)