80% of Indonesian Names in Panama Paper Confirmed : Teten Says

Jakarta, 17 Rajab 1437/25 April 2016 (MINA) – Chief of the presidential staff Teten Masduki said around 80 percent of Indonesian names in the leaked “Panama Papers” had been confirmed with data at the tax office.

“The finance minister has also given the confirmation,” Teten said here at the end of last week.

Earlier, Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro said most of the Panama Paper data were correct based on data at the Taxation Directorate General.

According to the documents, there were hundreds of Indonesians having assets stashed away abroad to avoid paying taxes, report from the presidential palace said.

On Tuesday Teten headed a meeting on alleged scandals involving Indonesian politicians and business leaders as mentioned in the leaked documents,  Antara was quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting..

The meeting was attended by police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti, chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Agus Rahardjo, Taxation Director General Ken Dwijugiasteadi, head of the Reporting and Analysis Center of Financial Transactions (PPATK) Muhammad Yusuf and representatives of the Finance Ministry and Bank Indonesia.

Teten said it is yet to be determined whether the Indonesians mentioned in the document had committed tax evasion or money laundering.

“The fund could be export earning deposited in banks abroad. We will check if the deposits had been properly reported to the tax office,” he said.

He said the “Panama Papers” report came when the government proposed the controversial tax amnesty bill, which the government hopes to draw funds of many rich Indonesian deposited abroad.

The cash strapped government needs large additional fund to finance its ambitious infrastructure projects.

He said the government might hold a meeting on the Panama Paper report next week after President Joko Widod returns from European country. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)