KKPU to Hold Trial for 27 Indonesian Cooking Oil Company for Alleged Price Fixing

JAKARTADAILY.ID – The Indonesian Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) will hold a Preliminary Examination Council Session on cases of alleged violations of price fixing and restrictions on the circulation of cooking oil.

The trial which will be held on October 17 will examine the 27 reported companies.

"The agenda for the upcoming trial is the first preliminary examination. The KPPU Prosecutor's Investigator will read and/or submit reports of alleged violations to the Reported Parties," said Ahmad Muhari in his written press release, quoted from kkpu.go.id, Thursday, October 13, 2022. 

Also read: Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan: Cooking Oil Prices Are Now Below the Highest Retail Price at Rp 14,000/Liter

Ahmad revealed, there were 27 companies reported in this case, they were suspected of violating Article 5 (price fixing) and Article 19 letter c (restrictions on circulation/sale of goods) of Law Number 5 of 1999 on the Sale of Packaged Cooking Oil in the country.

Ahmad said, after submitting the report on the alleged violation, the reported parties have the right to respond to the reports of alleged violations submitted by the KPPU Prosecution Investigator by submitting evidence.

"All preliminary examinations will be carried out within a maximum period of 30 days. Starting from the first trial attended by the Reported Party," he said.

Also read: Illegal Export of 81 Thousand Liters of Cooking Oil On Their Way to Timor Leste Confiscated in Tanjung Perak

Ahmad added, in completing the existing evidence, KPPU has summoned the parties related to the allegation. These include cooking oil producers, associations, retailers, and others.

"Based on the investigation, KPPU has pocketed at least two types of evidence. So it is concluded that it is feasible to proceed to the filing stage," he said.

Cooking oil in Indonesia had disappeared and if there was, the price had soared and out of control, beyond the retail price set by the government. The increase in vegetable cooking oil prices did not only occur in Indonesia but also throughout the world, this was due to the rising prices of Crude Palm Oil (CPO).

The following is a list of companies reported in alleged violations of price fixing and restrictions on the circulation of cooking oil;

PT Asian Agro Agung Jaya.

PT Batara Elok Semesta Terpadu.