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Rp 3.6 billion alleged tax fraud emerges
In the latest episode of tax fraud in the country, a legislator on Tuesday hinted a tax evasion case worth Rp 3
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n the latest episode of tax fraud in the country, a legislator on Tuesday hinted a tax evasion case
worth Rp 3.6 trillion (US$385 million) implicating business tycoon and high-ranking officials at the
tax office.
Bambang Soesatyo, a member of the House of Representatives’ working committee on taxation, said Tuesday he had received a report from an unidentified fourth-echelon tax official that alleged tax fraud had been committed by Wilmar International Limited Group.
Bambang said the business group had conducted fictitious transactions between its subsidiaries and fabricated financial reports to evade taxes.
“Using this modus operandi, the Wilmar group received tax reimbursements worth Rp 800 billion in 2007 and Rp 900 billion in 2008. In 2009, the group was going to receive a refund worth Rp 1.9 trillion.”
Wilmar International Limited Group dismissed the allegation, calling it “confusing and illogical”.
“The alleged tax fraud is said to have been going on for the last three years. If that is the case, then why hasn’t the taxation office investigated us until now?” Wilmar Business Development manager Max Ramajaya told The Jakarta Post by phone on Tuesday.
However, Max ruled out the possibility of filing a defamation suit against Bambang, an outspoken legislator from the Golkar Party.
“Pak Bambang is only doing his job — following up reports submitted to him,” he said.
Max also said Wilmar was willing to cooperate should the committee decide to summon them for clarification in the case.
Bambang said such a massive fraud could only be carried out with the help of high-ranking officials at the taxation office.
Tax office spokesman Iqbal Alamsjah could not be reached by the Post for comment Tuesday.
Bambang said he would also summon former tax office head Darmin Nasution, now interim Bank Indonesia governor, because the crime had been committed while he was in charge.
Darmin, known as an advocate for reform and a close aide to outgoing Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, was replaced by M. Tjiptardjo in June 2009.
The scandal will likely come as a major big blow to Tjiptardjo, who earned respect for his role in unravelling one of the country’s largest alleged tax fraud cases, which involved plantation conglomeration Asian Agri, controlled by tycoon Sukanto Tanoto.
However, the tax office has been the subject of fierce public scrutiny recently ever since National Police detective chief Comr. Gen. Susno Duadji publicly disclosed a tax evasion case involving a mid-ranking official named Gayus Tambunan, who is also believed to have bribed law enforcers to evade justice.
Susno’s testimony has led to further revelations of fraudulent practices at the tax office under the leadership of Darmin.
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Correction
Yesterday's headline on this page "Rp 3.6 billion
alleged tax fraud emerges" should have read "Rp 3.6
trillion alleged tax fraud emerges". We regret the
error.
- Editor
The Jakarta Post, May 20, 2010, Page 4
