Minister suspends accounting permits

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Ministry of Finance has barred four public accountants from continuing their practice for six months for violating accounting rules.

The four are Andi B. Surya, chief accountant at the Andi Iskandar and Partners accounting firm, Roy Alanus Salik, chief accountant at Salaki and Salaki, Johan Yoranouw, chief accountant at Johan, Malonda and Partners, and Arief Hendra Winata, chief accountant at Hendrawinata and Partners, the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry decided to freeze their business licenses on Nov. 4, because of infractions committed during the auditing process and for failure to comply with professional public accounting standards. The decision was based on a recommendation from the Disciplinary Committee of the Indonesian Accountants Association (IAI).

The statement did not specify the infractions nor name the companies whose books were audited by the four.

During the six-month suspension, the four are barred from giving attestation services, including general audits, reviews, performance audits, special audits, as well as non-attestation services.

The four are also barred from becoming chief accountants at their accounting firms but will still be responsible for services rendered. They are also obliged to take part in an advanced training for professional accountants.

The four accounting firms are required to change their leaders and report the change to the ministry within two weeks after the suspension of the accounting licenses.