November 20, 2025 | 07:04 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has responded to a widening corruption investigation involving several former officials at the Directorate General of Taxes (DGT).
He said the allegations relate to events from years ago and emphasized that the Indonesian Attorney General’s Office (AGO) is fully responsible for handling the case.
“That was in the past, not the present, and I don’t know how strong the case is. Let the Attorney General handle it,” Purbaya said after a state budget press briefing at the Finance Ministry on November 20, 2025.
He stressed that the probe is unrelated to the ministry’s ongoing tax-evasion cases.
“This is different. This is about tax amnesty. Maybe some assessments at the time weren’t very accurate, I don’t know. Let the Attorney General explain it later,” he added.
AGO Investigates Alleged Tax Relief Corruption
The AGO is currently investigating allegations that several companies received improper reductions in tax obligations between 2016 and 2020 through corrupt practices involving DGT officials.
“Investigators carried out raids at several locations related to alleged corruption in reducing corporate tax liabilities during 2016-2020,” said AGO spokesperson Anang Supriatna on November 17, 2025.
A law enforcement source familiar with the operation said investigators raided six sites, including the homes and offices of both active and retired tax officials. One of the locations searched was the residence of a former Director General of Taxes identified as KD.
Travel Bans Imposed on Former Officials and Business Figures
As part of the investigation, the AGO has requested travel bans on five individuals. Immigration Directorate General records show the bans are effective from November 14, 2025, to May 14, 2026.
Those barred from leaving Indonesia include:
Ken Dwijugiasteadi, former Director General of Taxes
Karl Layman, junior tax examiner at the South Jakarta Tax Office
Bernadette Ning Djah Prananingrum, head of the Semarang Madya Tax Office
Victor Rachmat Hartono, CEO of PT Djarum
Heru Budijanto Prabowo, tax consultant
Acting Director General of Immigration Yuldi Yusman confirmed the bans.
“Yes, the request was submitted, and the bans are in effect,” he said on November 20.
The AGO’s travel-ban request was issued under reference letter R-1431/D/DIP-4/1/2025.
No suspects have yet been named in the case, which remains at the general investigation stage.
Jihan Ristiyanti and Intan Setiawanty contributed to the writing of this article.
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