A Gift by Any Other Name

Over his 36-year career with the Tax Directorate General, Hadi Poernomo accumulated assets of around Rp38 billion—four times the wealth reported by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). Most of this wealth was reported as originating from gifts and wedding presents from his parents and parents-in-law in the name of his wife. Tempo’s investigations found that the value of the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) Chairman’s assets were actually far more than what was reported. His properties are spread between Lampung and Bali, from Sawangan to Los Angeles. And they are not included in an asset report submitted by Hadi to the KPK.

June 23, 2010

THE two free-standing temporary structures decorated with tassels made the ceremonial stage a thing of beauty. On that day, Saturday July 23, 2005, around 100 people had already arrived for the event, the “official opening” of three swallow birdhouses at the Gading Rejo village in Pringsewu regency, Lampung, South Sumatra. The invited guests recited prayers to invoke God’s blessing and the Yasin, a chapter from the Qur’an.

Seated in fron

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