KPPU Alleges Trade Minister of Hampering Competition
29 July 2013 07:26 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) suspects Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan of hampering competition between suppliers in the case of alleged garlic cartel. KPPU head of Public Relations and Law Bureau, Ahmad Junaidi, said the suspicion was the conclusion of the preliminary trial on the garlic cartel, held July 24.
"For the time being we concluded that there were inhibitions in the entrance of competitors which involved the Trade Minister," Ahmad said on Saturday, July 27.
According to Ahmad, Gita is suspected of violating Article 24 in Law No.5/1999 on the prohibition of monopolistic practices and unfair business competition.
In the preliminary trial, the KPPU also concluded that there were 22 parties indicated to have practiced cartel in the garlic market from November 2012 to February 2013. These partices include 19 companies, the Director General of Foreign Trade, The Trade Ministry ant its Minister Gita Wijwawan, and the Agriculture Quarantine Agency.
The KPPU has scheduled a public hearing for the defendants' plea on August 19. "So, this is still a conjecture," said Ahmad.
Responding to the allegation, Gita on Friday afternoon sent a warning letter to the KPPU Chairman. Gita felt that he is being, especially since the accusation did not come from the Commission, but its investigator.
Meanwhile, the Director General of Foreign Trade, Bachrul Chairi, said that KPPU's assessment of Minister Gita is too premature.
MARIA YUNIAR | ISMI DAMAYANTI | PINGIT ARIA | BERNADETTE CHRISTINA | ABDUL MALIK
