Who will be the next Taxman?

The selection committee tasked with appointing heads of the Finance Ministry's various directorate-generals convened on Monday afternoon two weeks ago. Deputy Finance Minister Mardiasmo, chairman of the committee, led the meeting at the ministry's office in Central Jakarta. All team members were present, including Kiagus Badaruddin, Taufiqurrahman Ruki, Darmin Nasution and Prijono Tjiptoheriprijanto. Former Finance Minister Chatib Basri, an independent interviewer for the team, was abroad at the time.

That day, the focus of discussion was who would lead the Tax Directorate-General. By late in the day, the committee had narrowed it down from 11 to seven candidates: Catur Rini Widosari, Suryo Utomo, Ken Dwijugiasteadi, Sigit Priadi Pramudito, Rida Handanu, Puspita Wulandari and Poltak Maruli John Liberty Hutagaol. "After the selection process and reports submitted by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) and the State Intelligence Agency (BIN), these seven names stood out. There were no dissenting opinion," Mardiasmo said last week.