Gayus Proves Indonesia as One of The Most Corrupt in Asia

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - An Indonesian tax official on trial for corruption has been bribing his way out of prison, a police spokesman said, reflecting the difficulties of fighting graft in a country ranked as one of the most corrupt in Asia. Police have arrested nine prison officers for letting tax official Gayus Tambunan out each week since July, the spokesman said.

The arrests were made after he was found missing during an inspection of the prison on the outskirts of Jakarta. He was later found at his house.

Tambunan is on trial on charges of giving money to law officers and a judge to avoid a graft case in the tax office, after being accused of taking payments to reduce corporate tax bills. Police spokesman Ketut Untung Yoga Ana said the head of the prison had received millions of rupiah from the tax official, while the rest accepted about a few million.

The police are also investigating Tambunan’s involvement in a tax scandal that media said involved major firms, including a few owned by politician and tycoon Aburizal Bakrie.