THE note was brief and succinct yet shocking. Hendry Fauzie, head of the industry, trade and cooperatives office of Sanggau Regency, West Kalimantan, wrote it. Through the letter dated May 14, 2004, Hendry asked Gusli Tambunan, head of the border customs and excise office of Entikong, to help ensure smooth sugar imports, by four local companies.

The four firms were CV Entikong Perkasa, CV Setia Gunung Benuan, CV Ikaper, and CV Benua Kenyalang, as