JAKARTA (Reuters) -Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati on Friday appointed retired Lieutenant General Djaka Budhi Utama, a former military officer who was once found guilty of kidnapping rights activists, as the head of the country’s customs and excise unit.
Sri Mulyani also appointed Bimo Wijayanto, a civil servant who was previously posted to the tax office, investment ministry and president’s chief of staff, as the new head of the tax office.
Human rights activists had raised concerns about Utama’s appointment, in part because before Friday’s ceremony he was still thought to be an active military officer. Under Indonesian law, military personnel are barred from holding some civilian posts, including in the Finance Ministry.
However, during the inauguration ceremony, a presentation detailing his profile referred to Utama as a retired Lieutenant General. Having retired from the military, he would be eligible to hold the post.
(Reporting by Stefanno Sulaiman; Editing by John Mair)
