Bogor defies tax abolition rule

BOGOR (JP): Regency government officials have continued collecting fees and taxes which were officially abolished on May 23 as ordered by Law No. 18 of 1997.

Government officials are still charging drivers of public transport vans and trucks fees on the streets of Cibinong, Parung, Ciomas and Caringin even though the fees were scrapped last year.

Antara reported yesterday that the officials collect about Rp 3 million in fees a day. The driver of each public transport minivan is charged Rp 100 and drivers of heavy vehicles, such as trucks, pay between Rp 1,000 and Rp 1,500 each time they pass a check point.

The minister of home affairs has threatened to fire officials who defy the ruling on fee abolishment.

Bogor regency spokesman Jenner Simanjuntak promised to look into the report on the alleged illegal fee collection.

Meanwhile, the Bogor mayoralty said it would lose an estimated Rp 2.3 billion a year from 20 categories of taxes and fees that the 1997 law revokes.

To compensate for the loss, it will introduce five new taxes on hotels and restaurants, entertainment, street lighting, billboards and groundwater. (pan)