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KPK detains former Indonesian consul to Malaysia
The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Tue, 10/14/2008 6:07 PM | National
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has detained Arifin Hamzah, a former Indonesian consul in Kinabalu Malaysia, for allegedly manipulating immigration fees during his tenure from 1999 to 2000.
Arifin and eight other former officials of the consulate general were named as suspects in the corruption case, said KPK spokesperson John Budi on Tuesday. Arifin was detained at the Jakarta Police headquarters.
"We arrested him today. The suspect will be detained for a maximum of 20 days for investigation," Johan said.
The other suspects were two other former Indonesian consuls in Kinabalu, KR and MS, and former top officials of the consulate general MTM, RE, AN, KS, MT, and YR. All of them are yet to be arrested.
According to Johan the suspects used two consulate decrees on immigration fees, one with fees significantly higher than the other. They later submitted income statements to the state based on the lower immigration fee while charging the higher fee to applicants and embezzling the difference.
The illegal practice occurred between 1999 and 2005 and it is estimated to have caused a loss to the state of Rp 11.3 billion (US$1.2 million). (dre)
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Peter Pickering (not verified) — Mon, 10/20/2008 - 3:57pm
Why is KPK not investigating other area's of Government as well starting with both Customs and Immigration. If they really want people to believe they are trying to curb the problem.
As a new company you try and get the import permits approved without having to pay someone off and see how you go. I have been waiting for 3 months and we are still no further advanced. These people are short sighted to the fact that if they help to get new business up and running then the Country as a whole will benefit from employment and taxes.
Secondly, why is there not a national system for company registration in this country. You have to register with each province individually and of course there is a fee each time.
David72 — Mon, 10/20/2008 - 3:59am
Why cant the government get some expert committee to draft out new simplified visa system.?. The present visa system and entry permits are so designed to make it complicated so as to encourage corruption.
Simple transparent system, like in most countries will eliminate these criminal actions once and for all and also bring huge benefits to the economy.
Marcus (not verified) — Wed, 10/15/2008 - 8:09am
KPK should arrest investigate the officers of the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore as they did/do almost the same . The difference is that in Singapore they probably get the extra money from the travel agents . The main point to be investigated is why the Embassy/Consulates do the same services in one OR 3 days ? And what about the exchange rates ? For example , when the fee is officially USD45 , why one cannot pay in Dolars instead of 35 Pounds in London (see www.indonesianembassy.org.uk), which means about USD60 now when the Pound is down , some months ago 35 Pounds was about USD67 . In Bangkok , as I heard , the fee is correct and in USD.