AGO to launch major reshuffle for prosecutors’ involvement in tax case

Erwida Maulia, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Wed, 04/07/2010 10:57 PM

Attorney General Hendarman Supandji promises a major reshuffle within his office after critics accuse him of responding ‘slowly’ to the alleged involvement of a number of prosecutors in a recently-disclosed tax crime case.

Hendarman said the reshuffle would be conducted this month as soon as the Attorney General’s Office (AGO)’s Internal Affairs division announced the result of its probe into a group of prosecutors believed to be involved in the case centered on low-ranking tax officer Gayus Tambunan.

Gayus was found to have suspicious bank account worth Rp 28 billion (approximately US$3.1 million) but was acquitted by Tangerang District Court in Banten last month, leading to suspicion over a tax mafia syndicate involving AGO and police officials.

While the Finance Ministry has been applauded for immediately launching internal investigation and then reshuffle within the tax office in response to the finding, the AGO has been criticized for reacting slowly.

Hendarman refused to be compared with the Finance Ministry, arguing the AGO needed to firstly gather evidence before concluding the status of the suspected officials.

“What should we hurry if we end up doing it wrongly? My motto is slowly but surely,” he said.

Hendarman also reasoned the AGO could not possibly respond immediately to reports from the Financial Transaction Reports Analysis Center (PPATK) as it had to firstly await the result of the police’s investigation into the reports.

Hendarman promised, however, that there would be reshuffle within the AGO as part of sanctions to be imposed on prosecutors involved in Gayus case.

“Sure, immediately. (It will affect) many,” Hendarman told reporters when asked about the reshuffle plan, adding it would be realized as soon as the AGO’s Internal Affairs division announced the result of its investigation on Thursday afternoon.