KPK: Many Gov’t Officials Lie on Their Wealth Report

IDNAround – The Corruption Eradication Commission, or KPK, said on Tuesday that it is not just Rafael Alun Trisambodo, the unusually rich taxman that has been in the spotlight this past week, who lied when reporting their personal assets.

“This just happens to be one incident. But there are actually many government officials whose wealth reports do not match their profiles or their job as a civil servant,” KPK deputy chairman Alexander Marwata said in Jakarta.

Alex revealed that he had received many forwarded messages about wealthy government officials. There are even low-ranking officials that are loaded. According to Alex, KPK will look into those who are humble in their wealth reports but are actually more well-off than they are willing to admit.

“If we take a look at their post, it is a strategic position. But they are not as rich according to the report, with their cash being under Rp 100 million [$6,548],” he said.

Alex told the public to help the KPK identify government officials with questionable wealth because it is possible that those are ill-gotten money that comes from corruption.

The KPK summoned Rafael to clarify his personal assets on Wednesday.

Rafael, the father of assault suspect Mario Dandy Satrio, previously reported that he possessed Rp 56.1 billion. Rafael did not mention owning a Rubicon Jeep — the car that his son Mario had been flexing on social media — on his wealth report.

“We have invited him [to make clarifications], and this is not just a request, but an official summons,” Alex said.

According to Alex, KPK has also sent a letter regarding the summons to Rafael’s superior at the Finance Ministry. Although Rafael had filed for resignation, the ministry has not made a decision.

A KPK spokesperson Ipi Maryanti on Monday did not say if a Finance Ministry official could accompany Rafael when clarifying his sources of wealth. Rafael, however, must answer KPK’s summons.

“The person in question [Rafael] must also bring the necessary evidence,” Ipi said.

KPK vice chairman Nurul Ghufron said the anti-graft commission had long suspected Rafael’s wealth report and also coordinated with the Finance Ministry on the matter since 2020.