TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Judicial Commission has formed a special team to investigate a number of discrepancies in tax dispute hearings in the Tax Court. The tax case of PT Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia becomes a concern as no settlement has been made after four years of trial.

Commission commissioner Eman Suparman told Tempo last week that the team was formed about two weeks ago. Eman said the commission decided to take actions after receiving two tax consultants claimed their clients were cheated on in recent tax dispute hearings.

Toyota's tax case is related to the company's financial statements for the fiscal years of 2005, 2007, and 2008. The Directorate General of Taxation found indications of odd transactions did when Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia sold their cars to Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation and Toyota Motor Thailand Co. Ltd., through Toyota Motor Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd.—a Singapore-based business unit.

Based on the tax court documents obtained by Tempo, the Tax Directorate General collected a Rp1.22-trillion shortfall for the fiscal years' tax payments. Conversely, if the government loses, the state must pay a tax refund to Toyota amounting to Rp412 billion.

To date, the case has not been settled. This is a concern since the Tax Court Law stated that the longest trial period for one dispute may only take about a year.

The judges in this dispute are Sukma Alam, Krosbin Siahaan, and Seno SB Hendra. As of the time this news release, none of said judges were able to provide a statement. Chairman of the Tax Court, IGN Mayun Winangun, did not respond to Tempo's request for an interview.

Both Toyota and the Tax Director General declined to comment on the particulars of this case. Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia president director, Masahiro Nonami, has yet to respond to Tempo's interview request.

BUDI RIZA | AGOENG WIJAYA | SUKMA N. LOPPIES