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More tax crimes unfold in Surabaya and Bandung
The Judicial Mafia Taskforce said Monday it would expand its oversight to Bandung and Surabaya following reports of alleged major tax mafia syndicates in the two cities
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he Judicial Mafia Taskforce said Monday it would expand its oversight to Bandung and Surabaya following reports of alleged major tax mafia syndicates in the two cities.
Taskforce member Mas Achmad Santosa suspected the tax fraud cases in Bandung and Surabaya could be linked to the case of Gayus Tambunan, who shot to notoriety after allegedly illegally amassing Rp 28 billion in his bank account.
“In the next few days, we will reveal to the public the big picture on these mafia practices. We will not only focus on the Gayus case. Please be patient,” Mas Achmad said.
A janitor was allegedly involved in an Rp 350 billion (US$38.85 million) tax fraud case in Surabaya, East Java. Enang Yahya Untoro was arrested as a suspect on Monday.
Surabaya Police Chief Sr. Comr. Ike Edwin said the police had arrested Enang along with nine members of an alleged tax mafia syndicate.
“We arrested them on Sunday and we are now hunting for another three suspects,” he told The Jakarta Post.
They have been charged with fraud, embezzlement and forgery. If found guilty, they could face a maximum of five years imprisonment.
The police uncovered the case after a company director claimed he received 34 counterfeit tax receipts worth Rp 934 million.
Ike said in the last five years the syndicate had managed to forge tax receipts for 350 companies, embezzling Rp 1 billion from each one.
“We have confiscated Rp 77.5 million, a car, a motorcycle, stamps belonging to a state-owned bank and the tax office, and a tax receipt from a state-owned bank,” he said.
The Surabaya police have asked for assistance from the Financial Transaction and Reports Analysis Center (PPATK), the Supreme Audit Agency and the East Java police concerning possible involvement of law enforcers in the case.
The police in Bandung have reportedly named a tax official at the Pratama Bandung Cicadas tax office as a suspect in a tax fraud case. He is identified as Andri Hardukadi,
Andri was detained at Bandung Police detention center since August last year, charged with stealing tax documents and counterfeiting tax invoices.
Ota said that he hoped the findings would trigger leaders of finance and law enforcement institutions to initiate cooperation.
“Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati should invite leaders of the police, prosecutors, and
judicial institutions, to sit together and discuss how to curb the taxation mafia.
“If that happens, we can tackle the root of the problems and raise more tax income,” Mas Achmad said.
A janitor was allegedly involved in a Rp 350 billion (US$38.85 million) tax fraud case in Surabaya, East Java.
