T

he Jakarta Police searched the Trade Ministry offices once again as part of an investigation into alleged corruption at Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta. The ministry has been blamed for the notorious delays in processing freight at the port.

'€œThe search began at 4 p.m.,'€ Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Mohammad Iqbal said on Monday, as quoted by Antara news agency.

Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Tito Karnavian said earlier that investigators started working on the case after President Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo lashed out at the prolonged dwelling times at Tanjung Priok Port during an inspection of the Indonesia Port Corporation (IPC) in June.

Dwelling time refers to the average length of time a container spends in a seaport terminal. A shorter dwelling time means a more efficient shipment procedure and thus lower logistical costs. Jokowi said he would resolve the issue, even if he had to dismiss high-ranking officials.

The police have named four suspects in the case: contract worker MU, middleman ME, the ministry'€™s director-general of foreign trade Partogi Hasibuan and a ministerial official working under the directorate-general Imam Aryanta, who was detained after US$40,000 was found during a previous raid on the Trade Ministry.

Iqbal said on Monday that the search was conducted in the office of the ministry'€™s directorate general of foreign trade.

In an earlier search of the ministry building police seized cash in US and Singapore dollars, which they believe was the proceeds of bribery.