SBY starts war on corrupt immigration<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Corruption at the Directorate General of Immigration has reached
\nRp 1 trillion (US$102 million) per annum, the country's top
\nofficials say, including some Rp 200 billion from departure tax
\nat Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.<\/p>\n
The situation at the directorate general, which is under the
\nauspices of the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, has come
\nunder scrutiny since President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono declared
\na national battle against corruption, which not only causes
\nfinancial losses to the state but damages the country's image.<\/p>\n
\"Irregularities at immigration offices are getting more
\nserious, which is worrisome. It's time for us to reform the
\noffices' management and supervision,\" he said after a limited
\nCabinet meeting on the performance of immigration offices.<\/p>\n
\"I have received reports that immigration offices are not
\nfunctioning properly. Officials have scared away foreign visitors
\nwho want to do business here or have a vacation here,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Corruption at immigration offices comes in various forms
\nincluding the embezzlement of departure tax together
\nwith tax officials, the collection of illegal fees from passport
\nand visa applicants and a \"service fee\" for the issuance of fake
\npassports and the revocation of travel bans.<\/p>\n
Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati said \"leakage\" in
\nthe collection of departure tax at the Soekarno-Hatta airport
\nalone could reach Rp 200 billion annually, from the estimated
\ncollection of Rp 1.2 trillion.<\/p>\n
It is a worrying figure, largely brought about by the misuse
\nof the free departure-tax facility, she said.<\/p>\n
At present, 50 categories of travelers are exempted from
\npaying departure tax, including those on sports, cultural or
\nreligious assignments or those traveling for trade or export
\nexhibitions or promotional activities.<\/p>\n
Travelers outside these categories -- each of whom is
\nsupposedly charged Rp 1 million -- can \"qualify for the facility\"
\nthrough paying less money to immigration officials in return for
\na receipt declaring they are exempted from paying departure tax
\nas they fall into one of the 50 categories.<\/p>\n
During his visit to Kuala Lumpur last week, Susilo asked
\nCoordinating Minister for the Economy Boediono to review the
\npolicy, which has been implemented since the 1980s, if it is
\nshown to be deterring Indonesians from traveling abroad.<\/p>\n
The payment is actually an advance on income tax, and can thus
\nbe deducted from tax bills. But the government is apparently
\nmaking a significant profit from the exit tax, since most
\nIndonesians, for one reason or another, do not pay income taxes,
\nand thus do not claim back these payments.<\/p>\n
At the Cabinet meeting, Susilo ordered National Police chief
\nGen. Sutanto, Attorney General Abdulrahman Saleh and related
\nministers to thoroughly inspect immigration offices and prosecute
\nunscrupulous officials.<\/p>\n
Susilo also called for restructuring in immigration offices'
\nmanagement and supervision and an upgrade in the immigration
\nsystem to improve public services, particularly for foreign
\nvisitors.<\/p>\n
\"The restructuring will help create 'clean', accountable and
\nprofessional immigration officials. They are needed to stop
\ntransnational crime and to boost state revenues from departure
\ntax,\" he said.<\/p>\n
One step ahead of the President's call, the Jakarta Police
\narrested six people over the weekend -- three immigration
\nofficials, two tax officials and one scalper -- suspected of
\nhaving embezzled departure tax.<\/p>\n
City Police special crimes unit deputy chief Adj. Sr. Comr.
\nIke Edwin said the police were questioning the suspects in a bid
\nto get to other syndicate members.<\/p>\n
\"We hope we can break up the whole syndicate soon. We are
\nstill looking at other people involved in the case, including
\nagents for migrant workers,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The six suspects are accused of have embezzled exit tax from
\nthousands of migrant workers who departed the country over the
\nlast few years.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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