TAX NEWS - June 2010

Indonesian Tax: Two Prosecutors Named Suspect in Tax Evasion Case

Jakarta -- Two leading prosecutors in fake tax evasion trial Cyrus Sinaga and Poltak Manullang, have been named suspect in the tax evasion scam involving police, prosecutors, and jusdges plus the tax office taking the total number of suspects to 11.

Police said today (10/6) the two legal officers had been named suspect but refused to inform what the charges are or when the charges were made, moreover order an arrest for the two senior prosecutors.

Chief Detective Commissioner general Ito Sumardi who replaced ex-chief detective Commissioner general Susno Duadji who leaked the tax scandal to the public after he lost the post due to his role in Bank Century scandal said summon have been sent to the officials for questioning and again refused to inform the date.

The prime suspect in the case Gayus Tambunan, a 30 year old upper middle tax official who conspired with police, judges, prosecutors and go betweens with reportedly over 140 companies, according to police confessed of handing Rp5 billion to prosecutors to switch the corruption and money laundry charges against the tax official into embezzlement.

The fake trial concluded in March 12th 2009 in a district court in the outskirt of the capital which resulted in acquittal for Gayus without media coverage.

The case blown up to the public by ex-chief detective Commissioner General Susno Duadji which prompted the national police a deceitful press briefing a week later saying the case had been handed over to the Attorney General's Office for prosecution.

The other eight suspects are Haposan Hutagalung (Gayus's lawyer), Alif Kuncoro (fixer/case broker), Andi Kosasih (businessman), Lambertus (Andi' lawyer), Sjahril Djohan (mastermind which connected all the stakeholders in the case), Police Commissioner Arafat Enanie, Adjutant Senior Commissioner Sri Sumartini, and Judge Muhtadi Asnun (who presided in the fake trial).