Dili Diplomat Suspected Car Smuggler
Thursday, 27 March, 2008 | 15:25 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Dili: The Dili District Attorney's Office named Arlinco Marcal, Timor Leste’s former Ambassador for Indonesia, as a suspect in a luxury car smuggling ring from Singapore to Indonesia. Marcal worked in Jakarta 2002 – 2006.

He smuggled four luxury cars including Mercedes, Lotus, Maserati, and Ferrari. All of these cars are owned by Indonesian businessman.

The district attorney also investigated Maria Reinata Calda de Jesus, former Second Secretary of Timor Leste Ambassador for Indonesia, and named him as a suspect in this case.

Both suspects were accused of misusing their positions as diplomats in importing luxury cars owned by Indonesian businessman. “They brought luxury cars into Indonesia territory without paying tax,” said prosecuting attorney Aderito Tilman.

Marcal denied the accusation. “The cars were imported with permission from the Foreign Affairs Ministry and Timor Leste Immigration. They approved it,” he said (Koran Tempo, 26 March).

The district attorney confirmed importing as a legal process. But, Aderito said, the suspects practiced deception by misusing their positions for their own interests. “They don't use the car. They work together with Indonesian businessmen to help them to import the cars and earn from it,” Aderito said.

Aderito, who is former head of the Dili district court, said diplomats are allowed to import more than one car for the embassy. “But not for business,” said Aderito. These cars, he said, imported by an Indonesian businessman under the name of Marcal to avoid entry tax that can be 300 percent of the original car price.

In the near future, the Dili District Attorneys Office will call three witnesses in this case. They are Timor Leste Ambassador for Malaysia, Timor Leste diplomat for the United States of America, and a Timor Leste diplomat in Indonesia. They once worked with Marcal in Jakarta.

The district attorney is still investigating this case and has not decided on the accusation. “The investigation is still going on, I cannot state how many violations the suspects have against them,” Aderito said. “I will mention a possible sentence when it is in the court.”

JOSE SARITO AMARAL (DILI)