Mahfud Reveals Allegations Money Laundering Customs Regarding Gold Imports IDR 189 Trillion
The Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security (Menkopolhukam) Mahfud MD revealed allegations of money laundering (TPPU) worth IDR 189 trillion at the Directorate of Customs and Excise at the Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu).
He said the alleged money laundering was related to the import of gold bullion to Indonesia.
“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?
During the investigation process, continued Mahfud, the customs had argued that the import was not bullion, but pure gold.
Then, the pure gold was minted through various companies in Surabaya, East Java.
However, the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) did not find the existence of the company in question.
"Sought in Surabaya there is no factory," said Mahfud.
He stated that the alleged money laundering had been submitted to the Ministry of Finance by PPATK in 2017.
At that time, reports of financial transaction irregularities were immediately given to the Director General of Customs and Excise, and the Inspector General of the Ministry of Finance along with two other people.
However, said Mahfud, until 2020 the report had never been followed up by the Ministry of Finance.
So, Sri Mulyani only found out about the alleged money laundering when she met PPATK on March 14, 2022.
Even so, the data that reached Sri Mulyani was about corporate tax violations, not allegations of money laundering at the Directorate of Customs and Excise.
"So when it was examined (the Ministry of Finance) 'Oh this company has a lot of wealth, the tax is less,'. Even though this (alleged money laundering) excise tax report," he concluded.