Rafael Alun Trisambodo was questioned by the KPK for 8.5 hours over the sources of his wealth. In addition to Rafael, the KPK is also investigating other government officials over their wealth report.
By
PRAYOGI DWI SULISTYO, NINA SUSILO, AGUIDO ADRI
·5 minutes read
FAKHRI FADLURROHMAN
Former Echelon III Officer Directorate General of Tax of the Ministry of Finance Rafael Alun Trisambodo (center) walked to the car after being examined at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Building, Jakarta, Wednesday (1/3/2023).
JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Wednesday (1/3/2023) questioned Rafael Alun Trisambodo, a former echelon III official of the Finance Ministry’s Directorate General of Taxation, over 8.5 hours to clarify his wealth. Not stopping at Rafael, the KPK will also carry out similar investigations into the wealth of other officials.
Meanwhile, the Finance Ministry has set up a special team to investigate the wealth of Rafael who, according to his risk profile, belongs in the category of employees at high risk of committing fraud or misappropriation.
Rafael arrived at the KPK at 8 a.m. and entered the interrogation room at around 9 a.m. He emerged from the interrogation room at around 5:30 p.m. After the questioning, Rafael said he had fulfilled his obligation to provide clarification at the KPK’s invitation. Asked about the matter of the ownership of six companies, Rafael said he had explained the matter to the KPK and asked journalists to refer to the KPK over his interrogation.
Rafael’s name emerged in the public spotlight following the arrest of his son, Mario Dandy Satrio (20), who was charged with assaulting Cristalino David Ozora (17). Netizens found that Mario often showed off his wealth on social media.
From the State Officials Wealth Report (LHKPN) Rafael submitted to the KPK, he has declared wealth amounting Rp 56.1 billion (US$3.7 million). Of that amount, he reported he had Rp 1.5 billion as shares in six companies.
KPK Prevention and Monitoring Deputy Pahala Nainggolan said Rp 1.5 billion was the shares’ nominal value and not their actual value. Two of Rafael's six companies were located in North Minahasa, North Sulawesi, one of which managed a 6.5-hectare housing complex.
"So, this company owns a housing complex, but its size is not [mentioned] in the LHKPN," said Pahala.
That's what the inspector general is for. So, it is work division based on authority.
The KPK was still tracing four other companies, and Pahala confirmed that the investigation into Rafael’s wealth was ongoing.
Pahala said the KPK would cooperate with the Finance Ministry’s Inspectorate General to ensure that the investigation was effective, because the KPK did not have the authority to access company transactions. In addition, the ministry’s inspector general could summon Rafael’s superiors, colleagues and subordinates. The KPK could not summon Rafael's superiors because they had nothing to do with his wealth report.
“That's what the inspector general is for. So, it is work division based on authority," he said.
ADRYAN YOGA PARAMADWYA
The press conference on the Rafael Alun Trisambodo and Eko Darmanto case at the Prawiro Radius Building, Ministry of Finance, Jakarta, Wednesday (1/3/2023).
Another probe
The KPK also planned to trace other people in relation to how Rafael had obtained his wealth.
“We are sure that after [Rafael], there must be other people. We heard he also has a gang, but we need to know the [operational] pattern,” said Pahala.
“Again, it's not simple. Yes, it's difficult, definitely not simple. In a sense, this financial official really knows how to get around. So, we want to get the pattern first, then move on to the others," he said.
In addition, the KPK also plans to investigate the wealth report of Eko Darmanto, the head of the Yogyakarta Customs and Excise Office, who has also received public scrutiny because he often shows off his luxury lifestyle on social media. The KPK intends to issue a letter of assignment to investigate Eko's wealth report on Thursday (2/3).
Pahala encourged the public to continue to be active in reporting any discrepancies in the wealth of state officials.
Meanwhile, Deputy Finance Minister Suahasil Nazara explained that the ministry had received a letter of resignation from Rafael dated 24 Feb. 2023. The Tax Office’s Secretariat received Rafael’s resignation letter on 27 Feb. 2023.
"We rejected his resignation, because under Government Regulation (PP) No. 11/2017, amended by PP No. 17/2020 on PNS management, if a government employee is under investigation, they cannot resign," he said.
As such, the ministry’s inspector general would continue the investigation into the ownership and origin of Rafael's assets.
Finance Ministry Inspector General Awan Nurmawan Nuh said his office had formed three special teams to handle Rafael’s case. The first team was responsible for carrying out field inspections, the second team for tracing assets, and the third team for investigating any potential fraud in how Rafael amassed his wealth.
From our risk profile data, Rafael is indeed classified as 'red', or at high risk [of fraud].
In addition, the Finance Ministry’s Inspectorate General will be using a risk profile in analyzing Rafael's assets. This is based on the discrepancy between an employee’s assets, their reported assets, and any suspicious transactions based on reports from the Financial Transaction Report and Analysis Centre.
"From our risk profile data, Rafael is indeed classified as 'red', or at high risk [of fraud]. We did not miss it, because the process is continuing. The investigation is still ongoing and the results will be presented later, it is still ongoing," he said.
In Solo, Central Java, Vice President Ma'ruf Amin said the Finance Ministry had improved the system to prevent irregularities. However, the system must be improved even further. Investigations must continued into all officials with suspicious wealth.
“The Finance Minister has improved the system and will continue to conduct investigations into others. This is also a warning to others," said the Vice President. (Z15)
