Indonesia Replaces Controversial Tax Chief

Jakarta Globe, Dion Bisara | January 21, 2011

Jakarta. The controversial Mochamad Tjiptardjo has been replaced as head of Indonesia’s tax office.

lBapepam chief Ahmad Fuad Rahmani, above, is taking
the place of Mochamad Tjiptardjo. (Antara Photo)

During a ceremony on Friday, Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo replaced Tjiptardjo with Fuad Rahmani, who steps down as head of the Capital Market and Financial Agencies Supervisory Agency (Bapepam LK).

Tjiptardjo, who is due to meet the retirement age in May, has been director general of the notoriously corrupt Directorate General of Taxation for one-and-a-half years.

He has been heavily criticized for his “poor performance” in resolving a number of outstanding tax cases, as well as the scandal involving tax official Gayus Tambunan.

The debacle has fueled rumors of his replacement.

Tjiptardjo, however, dismissed the speculation, saying “it would be better if new officials entered office at the beginning of the year, given the complicated tasks in the tax office.”

Other appointments included Nurhaida as an expert staff member at Bapepam LK, while Bambang Permadi Soemantri Brodjonegoro becomes the interim head of Bapepam LK’s fiscal policy office. The economist from the University of Indonesia takes over from interim head Agus Supriyanto.

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