Officials evade land tax payment

BANDUNG: Hundreds of current and former top government officials who own land or houses here have not paid taxes, a local revenue agency official said on Saturday.

The head of the Bandung mayoralty revenue agency, Dada Rosada, said arrears amounted to billions of rupiah because each official owed an average Rp 100 million. Their properties are situated in exclusive areas in Karees, Cibeunying and Bojonagara.

Dede said the arrears could cost the mayoralty's set target of revenues from land and building taxes of Rp 29.84 billion for the 1998/1999 fiscal year if settlement was not made by March 31. The agency was 9.4 percent shy of the target in the second week of the month.

"The Bandung mayor will summon them as soon as possible to pay their debts," Dada said as quoted by Antara.

The agency has sent its employees to all the debtors across the city to try to collect in a race against the deadline.