KPK Summons ASN Ministry Of Finance Regarding Alleged Corruption At The Directorate General Of Taxes

Directorate General of Taxes (Photo: DOK ANTARA / HO)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) summons witnesses regarding alleged corruption related to the 2016-2017 tax audit at the Directorate General of Taxes.

The examination of a witness was carried out at the KPK's Red and White House, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta.

"Today at the KPK building, the investigating team is scheduled to examine witnesses in cases of alleged corruption in receiving gifts or promises related to tax audits for 2016-2017 at the Directorate General of Taxes", said KPK spokesman for the field of prosecution Ali Fikri, Monday, March 22.

A witness who was summoned was on behalf of Febrian. He is a State Civil Servant (ASN) at the Ministry of Finance who is an executor at the STAN State Finance Polytechnic.

Ali did not elaborate on the exam material that the investigators would ask. However, he is suspected of knowing about the case being investigated by the anti-graft commission.

Before calling witnesses, KPK investigators on Thursday, March 18 conducted searches in four locations. The search was carried out at the office belonging to PT Jhonlin Baratama in Simpang Empat District, Tanah Bumbu Regency, South Kalimantan as well as three houses belonging to related parties in this case.

However, there was no mention of the details of the owner of the house that was searched. Because at this time the KPK has not announced the suspects in this case. From this search, the KPK found evidence, including various documents and electronic items that were suspected of being related to the case.

Previously reported, the alleged corruption crime at the Directorate General of Taxes was confirmed by KPK Deputy Chairman Alexander Marwata. on Tuesday, March 2. Despite confirming the investigation, the anti-graft commission has not yet wanted to announce a suspect in the case.

"We are really investigating, but the suspect will be later. In that investigation, we are looking for evidence to determine the suspect. This is what we are doing", Alex told reporters at the KPK's Red and White House, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta.

The KPK, he continued, had named a suspect in this case. However, he did not want to explain further considering that the investigating team is currently still working on gathering evidence in the case.

Alex had leaked the mode of the tax corruption case he was currently investigating. According to him, the mode used in this case was the same as the case that had been handled by the KPK, namely that taxpayers gave bribes to tax auditors so that the tax value is low.

He also explained the value of tax bribes that has occurred currently is around tens of billions of rupiah. "The bribes are also in the tens of billions. It is not wrong that it also involves a team of examiners. If the tax is that way, how do you make the taxpayer pay low taxes by bribing the examiner so that the tax is lowered", said Alex.

In investigating this case, the anti-corruption commission has coordinated with the Inspectorate General (Itjen) of the Ministry of Finance. The KPK, said Alex, will handle the bribery case while the Inspectorate General of the Ministry of Finance and the Directorate General of Taxes of the Ministry of Finance will re-examine the tax payments suspected of containing the bribe.

Several days later, the KPK asked the Directorate General of Immigration to prevent the six people associated with this case from leaving the country. KPK Spokesman for Enforcement Affairs Ali Fikri said this was done to facilitate the investigation that was being carried out.

"Prevention of going abroad is of course in the interests of the smooth running of the investigation process so that if needed for the examination they are at home", Ali said in a written statement to reporters, Thursday, March 4.

Ali said that this prevention had been carried out according to applicable procedures and was carried out on several suspects in this case. However, Ali did not specify who was prevented and how long it would take.