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Businessman detained for tax evasion
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President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo delivers a speech on the tax amnesty before 2,000 businesspeople in the mining and plantation industries in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, on Dec. 5. (JP/N. Adri)
T
he North Sumatra Police detained on Friday a poultry company owner from Binjai city for alleged tax evasion amounting to Rp 3.61 billion (US$268,760).
North Sumatra Tax Office head Mukhtar said it had requested the detainment of the businessman, identified only as JH. He is being held at Tanjung Gusta Penitentiary in Medan.
“We held JH because he has failed to pay,” said Mukhtar in a press conference in his office. The office referred to JH’s detention as sandera (taken hostage) in line with the technical term coined by the Finance Ministry for taking tax evaders into custody.
“[Detainment] is our last resort. We have sent several letters asking him to pay his taxes,” Mukhtar said.
By law, a person detained for suspected tax evasion can be detained for six months, which can be extended for a maximum of six months. They will be released when they pay their taxes or avail of the tax amnesy. (evi)
