4 Cartel Detection

This chapter is concerned with cartel detection, through market monitoring, inspections, or well-designed leniency programs. It analyses three methods competition authorities regularly use to detect, and adduce evidence about, cartels. First, competition authorities can detect cartels by monitoring and screening markets. Second, competition authorities can conduct inspections at the business premises or private homes of cartel participants. Third, given the limitations of the first two methods, competition authorities can incentivize companies to report the cartels in which they may be involved by rewarding them for their cooperation. Pursuant to so-called leniency programmes, companies that choose to cooperate will, depending on the quality of the information provided and the time at which it is provided, benefit from full immunity from fines or significant fine reductions (partial immunity). Following in the footsteps of the US Department of Justice, the European Commission adopted a Leniency Notice in 1996, the application of which has allowed it to uncover a vast number of cartels.

PROSPEK LENIENCY PROGRAM SEBAGAI UPAYA MENGUNGKAP PRAKTIK KARTEL DALAM HUKUM PERSAINGAN USAHA DI INDONESIA

<p>Abstract <br />Cartel is a dangerous criminal offense in the competition law. The impact of this cartel practice brings huge losses to consumers. The Business Competition Supervisory Commission in Indonesia has tried to eradicate cartels, but often constraints. The difficulty is finding direct / written evidence of a cartel. While most cartel agreements are not in writing, it could only be an agreement between the parties without making it in a written agreement. Program Leniency as one of the effective solutions in combating cartel activities, several countries have implemented this program in its law, but until now Indonesia has not regulated the leniency program. This article aims to determine the prospects of how to implement leniency programs in competition law in Indonesia. The research method used is empirical legal research (sociological/non-doctrinal) with the nature of descriptive research. The results of this study indicate that the leniency program can be applied in business competition law in Indonesia by adopting it in Law No. 5 of 1999 concerning Prohibition of Monopolistic Practices and Unfair Business Competition, in applying the leniency some things to consider include: Regulation of sanctions imposed, business actors or companies must understand that there is a high risk of cartel detection by competition authorities (fear of detections), as well as elements of clarity, transparency and predictability in implementing the leniency program.<br />Keywords: Competition Law; Cartel; Leniency Program.</p><p>Abstrak<br />Kartel merupakan kejahatan yang berbahaya dalam hukum persaingan usaha. Dampak dari praktik kartel ini membawa kerugian yang besar pada konsumen. Komisi Pengawas Persaingan Usaha di Indonesia telah berusaha untuk memberantas kartel, tetapi seringkali tekendala. Kesulitannya adalah menemukan bukti langsung/tertulis adanya kartel. Sementara sebagian besar perjanjian kartel tidak secara tertulis, bisa jadi hanya kesepakatan di antara para pihak tanpa membuatnya dalam perjanjian tertulis. Leniency Program sebagai salah satu solusi efektif dalam memerangi kegiatan kartel, beberapa negara telah menerapkan program ini dalam hukumnya namun sampai saat ini Indonesia belum mengatur mengenai leniency program. Artikel ini bertujuan untuk membahas mengenai prospek bagaimana penerapan leniency program dalam hukum persaingan di Indonesia. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah penelitian hukum empiris (sosiologis / non doktrinal) dengan sifat penelitian deskriptif. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa leniency program dapat diterapkan dalam hukum persaingan usaha di Indonesia dengan mengadopsinya dalam Undang-Undang Nomor 5 Tahun 1999 tentang Larangan Praktek Monopoli dan Persaingan Usaha Tidak Sehat, dalam menerapkan leniency beberapa hal yang perlu diperhatikan antara lain: Pengaturan sanksi yang dikenakan harus diperberat, Pelaku usaha ataupun perusahaan harus memahami bahwa terdapat resiko yang tinggi dari pendeteksian kartel oleh otoritas persaingan jika mereka tidak mengajukan permohonan leniency (fear of detection), serta Unsur kejelasan, transparansi, dan prediktabilitas dalam penerapan leniency program.<br />Kata Kunci: Hukum Persaingan Usaha; Kartel; Leniency Program.</p>