Wanted Indonesian tax official surrenders in Singapore

Wanted Indonesian tax official surrenders in Singapore
By Satish Cheney / Zul Othman | Posted: 31 March 2010 2342 hrs
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Indonesian tax official Gayus Tambunan</td> </tr> <tr> <td> </td> <td class="update"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> </td> <td>
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SINGAPORE: An Indonesian tax official wanted for questioning over US$2.5 million found in his bank account surrendered in Singapore at about 2am on Wednesday, and was sent back to Jakarta on a flight in the afternoon.

It seems the Indonesian police had been trailing 30-year-old Gayus Tambunan since Monday. Gayus came under the spotlight when a former Indonesian police commander claimed he tried to hinder investigations into large sums of money in his bank accounts.

Gayus is believed to have left for Singapore on March 24, and is said to have stayed at several hotels in the Orchard Road area. An embassy official said Indonesian authorities arranged to meet Gayus at the Marriott Hotel in Singapore on Tuesday night, and held talks with him till 2am in the morning, after which the fugitive agreed to return to Jakarta.

Although it is unclear if the Singapore police were at the Marriott Hotel, Indonesian embassy official Yayan Muliyana said they have been working closely with local law officials before proceeding on the matter. In Jakarta, Gayus was besieged by scores of reporters and camera crew.

Corruption in Indonesia has been in the spotlight recently, and this is merely the latest case, with the potential to cast an even wider net if investigations implicate more officials. Indonesian newspapers said Gayus' wife is also wanted for questioning.

Officials said several members of his family, including his children, could still be in Singapore. Indonesia and Singapore have no extradition treaty, but Indonesian Foreign Ministry officials have said that in some cases, extradition is possible.

- CNA/yb