Indonesia sends team to Guyana to check “Gayus” passport

Jan 23, 2011 News

Indonesian authorities have announced that they have sent investigators to Guyana to check the authenticity of passports which bear the likeness of convicted tax official, Gayus Tambunan and his wife, Milana Anggraeni.

Jailed: Gayus Tambunan

Indonesian news agencies yesterday quoted Chief Detective Commander, General Ito Sumardi, as saying on Friday that police had sent joint investigation teams to Guyana.
The joint team comprises the police and immigration officials. “We have sent three persons from the police,” Ito said on Friday as quoted by tempointeraktif.com news portal.
It was reported that the information technology team with the National Police found two passport pictures issued by the Republic of Guyana bearing photos of Tambunan and his wife.
Guyanese officials had reportedly said that from all indications the passports were fakes.
The “Gayus” passport has the name of Yosep Morris, born on May 9 1979, and is valid from July, 23, 2007 to July 12, 2012, while the “Milana” passport holds the name of Ann Morris, born on February 6, 1979, valid from July 18, 2007 until July 18, 2012.
On Wednesday, Indonesia jailed the lowly tax official in a high profile case in that country for bribery. Police had said that convicted civil servant had acquired fake Guyana passports and from all indications was planning to flee to the South American country to escape prosecution.
Tambunan was accused of amassing millions in ill-gotten gains and of bribing judges.
News agency reported that in addition to a seven-year sentence that exposed rampant Government graft, Tambunan was also fined 300 million rupiah (US$30,000) after being found guilty of corruption.
Crowds booed and jeered when the judge read the verdict, which was less than the 20 years demanded by the prosecutors. Prosecutors plan to appeal.

The fake Guyana passport that Gayus Tambunan was caught with.

Gayus’s case came into the spotlight after he cooperated with the police to become a whistle-blower and expose the corruption in almost all aspect of the Indonesian judiciary system.
“This case has been influenced by many sides to make me look like public enemy number one in Indonesia,” Gayus said after the verdict.
“I’m really disappointed with the legal system mafia task force (formed to combat corruption in the judiciary system), who didn’t investigate the high level officials and instead politicised the issue.”
Gayus first came to national attention when he was arrested for bribing the judges, prosecutors and the police with more than US$2 million to have his corruption case dismissed. He was initially accused of helping companies evade taxes.
Police later revealed that the lowly tax official, despite earning a modest income a month, had reportedly amassed millions of dollars in cash and assets.
Gayus stirred anger in the country when he was photographed in Bali watching a tennis tournament when he was supposed to be in custody for his corruption case. He said he was in need of a holiday after feeling “stressed out” in prison.
He later admitted that he had escaped from prison at least 68 times by bribing the guards. He said he has taken trips to various destinations, including Macau, with fake passports obtained from the immigration office.