Finance Minister Reminds DJBC To Maintain Integrity

Yogyakarta (Antara Bali) - Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has reminded officers of the Customs and Excise Directorate General (DJBC) to maintain their integrity and adopt a professional approach while carrying out their responsibilities.

"Integrity and professionalism are precious," Sri Mulyani said in a press release here on Thursday.

The minister urged the officers of the DJBC to jointly prevent corruption in the institution.

To prevent corruption, she noted, the government had enhanced salaries of employees of the Ministry of Finance.

"When you work in the Ministry of Finance, you will have a decent standard of living," she noted.

On the occasion, the minister also laid out a plan to revive the reform team at the DJBC.

"I want to revive the reform team at the DJBC. We need to have a system that ensures dignity and induces passion," the minister stressed.

Earlier, in November, the KPK arrested a middle ranking official of the taxation directorate general, Handang Soekarno (HS), who was caught red handed accepting a bribe from a businessman, R. Rajamohanan Nair (RRN).

RRN, the Director of PT EK Prima Ekspor Indonesia (EKP), and three of his staff members were arrested as well as HS, driver and adjutant.

RRN handed over the bribe money worth US$148,500, or around Rp1.9 billion, in his house in Springhill Residences in Kemayoran, Jakarta, to Handang at 20:00 hours local time.

KPK grabbed HS, his driver and adjutant, when they were about to leave that place. The KPK officers then entered the house and arrested RRN.

The two staff members of RRN were picked up from their respective houses in Pamulang, South Tangerang and Pulomas, East Jakarta.

KPK chairman Agus Raharjo disclosed that the money received by HS was believed to be a bribe in connection with a number of tax problems being faced by PT EKP, including its tax obligation of Rp78 billion.

After investigations over 24 hours following the arrest, KPK named HS and RRN as suspects.

HS, if found guilty, will face a jail term of up to 20 years with a fine of up to Rp1 billion and RRN could be sentenced to a maximum 5 years' imprisonment with a fine of up to Rp50 million. (WDY)