BPK Chief Receives Sanction for Involvement in Panama Papers

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Chairman of the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) Harry Azhar Azis has been declared guilty by the Agency's Code of Ethics Council. Harry was proven to violate BPK's code of ethic in relation to his ownership of offshore companies, as revealed by the Panama Papers documents.

BPK's Head of Public Relation and International Cooperation Bureau Yudi Ramdan, said that Harry has received a written warning. "In accordance with Article 11 (1) of BPK Regulation No. 4 of 2016, the Code of Ethics Council have tried Harry Azhar Azis and impose a sanction in the form of written warning," Yudi said on Wednesday last week, October 12, 2016.

Ydu explained that in accordance with BPK Regulation No. 2 of 2011 on Code of Ethics, sanction will be imposed on BPK a member who violated his/her responsibility and restrictions in assuming his/her role as a member of the society, Indonesian citizen, and state officials, resulting in negative effects  for the BPK. "The [written warning] sanction is a light sanction," Yudi said while adding that the sanction will not affect Harry's position as the Agency's chairman.

Yudi said that the trial against Harry was held based on public reports, which was filed by the Save BPK Coalition following Harry's name appearance in the Panama Papers.

In the Panama Papers, Harry was reported to own Sheng Yue International Ltd., an offshore company established in tax haven country, which suspected to be established to evade taxes.

The Panama Papers was originated from a small Panamanian law firm called Mossack Fonseca, which claimed to have major influence and branches in Hong Kong, Zurich, Miami, and 35 other countries around the globe. The firm is known as the best in helping businessmen to establish shell companies intended to obscure their ownership over a certain company.

VINDRY FLORENTIN