Mahfud Allegedly Sri Mulyani "Deceived" by Underlings, Laundered Gold Import Money in Untouched Excise
The Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security (Menkopolhukam) Mahfud MD said he always respected the performance of the Minister of Finance (Menkeu) Sri Mulyani.
In fact, for him, Sri Mulyani was the best Finance Minister the Indonesian government had ever had.
"To my amazement in the cabinet, (Sri Mulyani) explained that any complicated problem can be made simple, (for example regarding) the state budget," said Mahfud in a working meeting with Commission III of the DPR RI at the Senayan Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Wednesday (29/3 /2023).
"So I believe him, the best Minister of Finance, but, access (information) from below does not enter," he continued.
Mahfud said that Sri Mulyani did not get valid data regarding the alleged money laundering crime (TPPU) at the Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu).
In fact, the report on alleged money laundering has been submitted by the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK).
He then showed one of the data regarding the alleged crime of money laundering carried out at the Directorate of Customs and Excise which was reported by PPATK in 2020 regarding the import of gold bars with a total transaction of IDR 189 trillion.
“Imported gold bars that are expensive, but in the excise letter it says raw gold. Examined by PPATK, investigated, 'Where are you, the gold is already finished, how come you say raw gold'?" said Mahfud.
The Directorate of Customs and Excise, continued Mahfud, stated to PPATK that the imported gold was pure gold, which was then printed in Surabaya to become gold bars.
"Sought in Surabaya, there is no factory," he said.
Mahfud revealed that PPATK had snorted the money laundering allegations since 2017 and immediately reported them to the Ministry of Finance through the Director General of Customs and Excise, and the Inspector General of the Ministry of Finance.
But until 2020, the case report had not reached Sri Mulyani's desk.
So at the March 14 2023 meeting, PPATK reiterated the existence of a suspicious Rp. 189 trillion transaction to Sri Mulyani.
Only after that, echelon 1 officials at the Ministry of Finance admitted that they would investigate the suspicious transaction.
However, the report provided is not related to allegations of money laundering at the Directorate of Customs and Excise.
“Alleged excise money laundering with 15 entities, but what's the report? It becomes a tax (violation), said Mahfud.
"So when it was examined (the Ministry of Finance) 'Oh this company has a lot of wealth, the tax is lacking,' Even though this (alleged money laundering) excise tax report," he added.