Former Supreme Audit Agency Chief Banned From Traveling

Jakarta, April 22 (Antara) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the Indonesian Immigration office, on Tuesday, have banned former Chief of Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) Hadi Purnomo from traveling abroad following his alleged corruption in BCA bank in 1999. "Hadi Poernomo cannot leave the country as of today for six months," spokesman to immigration office Heryanto confirmed here on Tuesday. On April 21, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named former chairman of the Supreme Audit Board (BPK) Hadi Poernomo, a corruption suspect. Hadi was charged with abuse of power when he was Taxation Director General in 2002-2004, causing a loss of around Rp375 billion to the state. Hadi was named suspect on his 67th birthday, on Monday, when he retired as civil servant from his last position as BPK chairman. Hadi favored Bank Central Asia (BCA) by accepting the bank`s objection to corporate tax in the 1999-2003 period, resulting in a loss to state revenue, KPK chairman Abraham Samad clarified on Monday. Hadi will face a jail term of up to 20 years with a maximum fine of Rp1 billion if found guilty by court. On July 17, 2003, BCA had sent a letter to the Income Tax Directorate (PPH) stating its objection to the imposition of tax on its non-performing loan of Rp5.7 trillion. The PPH Director recommended a rejection of the BCA`s objection, but Hadi Poernomo passed an order to the PPH Director to change his recommendation in favor of BCA on July 18, 2004. Hadi Poernomo then issued a decision freeing BCA of tax obligation on its NPL. "The state should have received at least Rp375 billion in tax revenues," Deputy Chairman of KPK Bambang Widjojanto asserted.