Tax Official's Lifestyle Under Scrutiny Following Assault Case: How Much Does a Jeep Rubicon Cost?

The assault case committed by Mario Dandy Satrio (21) against David (17) in the Pesanggrahan area, South Jakarta, on Monday (20/2/2023) has far-reaching consequences.

Mario is the son of Rafael Alun Trisambodo, a level III official in the General Administration Section of the Directorate General of Taxes (DJP) in South Jakarta II. David is the son of an official in the Ansor Youth Movement (GP), an affiliate of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).

At least two major issues have arisen from this case. First, the assault on a minor, leaving the victim critically injured and hospitalized in the ICU of RS Medika South Jakarta. The perpetrator, Mario, has been named a suspect and detained at the South Jakarta Metro Police Headquarters.

Second, there is scrutiny of the perpetrator's and his family's lifestyle. Mario was found to have been driving a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon before assaulting David, allegedly with two other accomplices. The Rubicon has been taken to the Pesanggrahan Police Station as evidence.

Mario frequently showcased the Rubicon on his personal Instagram account, along with other luxury vehicles such as a Harley Davidson motorcycle. Vehicle tax checks reveal the Rubicon used by Mario is a 2013 model.

The car has prompted questions from netizens regarding the income and integrity of Mario's father, a tax official. So, how much does a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon cost?

(See also: Tax Allowance for Tax Officials from Eselon I to IV)

According to the official Jeep Indonesia website, the cheapest Jeep Wrangler Rubicon costs Rp1.73 billion. This is the type Mario used.

The Jeep Gladiator Rubicon is priced starting at Rp2.13 billion. Other Jeep models, like the Compass, start at almost Rp800 million.

This car is a product of the United States (1941), currently headquartered in Toledo, Ohio.

Jeep Indonesia states that its products have been available for the past 80 years. The Wrangler Rubicon model is particularly popular with consumers, even forming its own community in Indonesia.

Eroding Public Trust

The display of wealth by tax officials and their families can erode public trust in the institution's integrity. This was stated by the head of the DJP, Suryo Utomo.

He said that showing off wealth could create a negative stigma against the more than 45,000 DJP employees.

"I believe that many more employees have high integrity and commitment to their duties at the Directorate General of Taxes," Suryo stated in his video response, as reported by Katadata on Thursday (23/2).

He also ensured that disciplinary action would be taken against tax officials involved in corruption and breaches of integrity to maintain the integrity of his agency's employees. Finance Minister Sri Mulyani previously expressed similar concerns.

Ani, as the Minister of Finance is known, condemned the lavish lifestyle of her subordinates and the families of Ministry of Finance civil servants, as it could erode trust in the integrity of the state treasury.

"And create a negative reputation for all Ministry of Finance officials who have worked diligently, honestly, and professionally," Ani said via her Instagram page.

The Ministry of Finance Inspectorate General (Itjen) along with the DJP's internal compliance unit also summoned and will examine the tax official whose child was involved in the case. However, the results of the examination are not yet known.

(See also: Prices of 5 Most Expensive Classic Cars in the World, Ferrari Takes the Lead)