The Association of Indonesian Public Accountants (IAPI) announced that Suyanto, the witness who testified in last week’s trial of money laundering suspect Bahasyim Assafie, was not registered as a public accountant, despite being widely quoted as one.
"He is not a member of the IAPI. We checked and he does not have an accountant permit from the Finance Ministry," Tarko Sunaryo, IAPI's secretary-general said.
Last Tuesday, Suyanto testified as an expert witness in former tax official Bahasyim's case. Various media quoted him as a public accountant.
Bahasyim, whose Rp 61 billion ($6.8 million) wealth is stored in more than 10 bank accounts under his and his family members' names, is suspected of money laundering and extortion.
During his testimony, Suyanto said the money was gained through legal means such as businesses and investments.
Suyanto also said the suspicious transfer of Rp 1 billion from Kartini Mulyadi's account to Bahasyim wife's account, to the family's fund manager, and back to the wife's account, was because Kartini was lending them money for business and the family had intended to return the money.
Tarko said that Suyanto was discovered to be staff at a public accountant's office.
"If he was acting under a superior's order [and was claiming to be a public accountant] then the superior could be given a sanction," Tarko said.
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