Minister denies president’s son’s role in movie imports

Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik denied on Thursday that the ministry has granted permission to film importer, PT Omega Film, to import four US blockbusters this month because the company had links to the president’s son, Edhie Baskoro Yudhoyono.
Jero said that he had confirmed this directly with Edhie, nicknamed Ibas.
"I believe in Ibas; he has no shares in the film importing company," Jero said on Thursday, when he announced the comeback of Hollywood blockbusters to the silver screen.
Three local importers, which hold exclusive rights to import Hollywood blockbusters from the US' Motion Picture Association (MPA), suspended import activities in January while they settled tax cases in court worth up to Rp 300 billion (US$35.09 million), in unpaid royalty fees and penalties.
The unpaid royalty fees and penalties resulted from the government's decision to impose new royalty taxes on imported movies.
Jero added that he "does not really know who the owner" of the company is.
It was also reported that the owner of PT Omega Film is still linked to the film importing companies facing court cases, which is an indication of a monopoly.
Jero added that in granting licenses to import blockbuster movies, the ministry simply looked at the boards of directors or commissioners of companies.

source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/07/28/minister-denies-president%E2%80%99s-son%E2%80%99s-role-movie-imports.html