By: Danielle Hatch
Sunarko Kuntjoro, a citizen of Indonesia, and three Indonesian-based companies have been charged with violating US export laws related to the US sanctions against Iran. PT MS Aero Support (PTMS), PT Kandiyasa Energi Utama (PTKEU), and PT Antasena Kreasi (PTAK) were charged with eight counts of conspiracy to unlawfully export US goods to Iran as well as charges related to false statements and money laundering.
Kuntjoro was the majority owner and President Director of PTMS and worked with Mahan Air to get their goods to the US for repair and then reexported to Mahan Air in Iran. Mahan Air has been on the Department of Treasury’s Specially Designated National and Blocked Person (SDN) list since October 2011 and is on The Denied Parties List (Bureau of Industry and Security). In addition, there is a trade embargo on Iran which prohibits exports, reexports, sales and supplying the country (directly or indirectly) with any goods, technology or services from the US without a license.
Between 2011 and 2018 Kuntjoro and his company worked with Mahan Air, an American individual and an American company to transport goods owned by Mahan through PTMS, PTKEU and PTASK to the US for repair. The goods would then be reexported to these companies who then sent them to Mahan Air in Iran.
Kuntjoro faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine for each of the individuals charges of violating the sanctions, a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine on the charge of conspiracy to launder money and a maximum of 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the false statements charge.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Justice Department Notice: http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/indonesian-citizen-and-three-indonesian-companies-charged-violating-us-export-laws-and