BPK audits customs office over possible irregularities<\/p>\n
Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) will conduct an investigative
\naudit of import duties collected by the Directorate General of
\nCustoms and Excise after discovering suspected irregularities
\nduring an earlier audit.<\/p>\n
The deputy chairman of the BPK, Bambang Wahyudi, said the
\nagency had found "indications of irregularities" in the
\ncollection of import duties during a routine audit of the
\ndirectorate.<\/p>\n
"This is a special audit, not a routine one. We are focusing
\non the collection of import duties to help maximize state revenue
\nand prevent corruption," said Bambang.<\/p>\n
The results of the investigative audit will be reported to the
\nHouse of Representatives at the end of this year, he said.<\/p>\n
However, the directorate denied it was the subject of a
\nspecial audit.<\/p>\n
"As far as I know, there is currently no special audit by the
\nBPK here. If there is (an audit), I think it is just a routine
\none, which includes among other things auditing import duties,"
\nthe directorate's spokesman, Susiwijono, said.<\/p>\n
The customs directorate has been criticized for years for
\nfailing to curb collusion between the directorate's officials and
\nsmugglers and dishonest importers, which has caused the
\ngovernment to suffer massive losses.<\/p>\n
While smugglers pay no import duties, many importers
\nundervalue the goods they are importing to cut their duty
\npayments.<\/p>\n
Officials from the directorate admitted that in 2001 and 2002
\nalone, thus undervaluation caused the government to lose about Rp
\n17 trillion (US$2 billion) in potential revenue.<\/p>\n
The directorate has drawn fire from many parties, including
\nthe government, for its failure to meet import duty targets
\ncontained in the state budget, despite increases in the country's
\nimports.<\/p>\n
In 2002, for example, the directorate collected Rp 10.6
\ntrillion ($1.2 billion) in import duties, compared to the budget
\ntarget of Rp 11.8 trillion. This despite a 4 percent increase in
\nimport volume to $31.2 billion that year.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bpk-audits-customs-office-over-possible-irregularities-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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