KPK Explores Flow Of Bribes From Taxpayers Allegedly Used To Establish Business

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is investigating the establishment of a business carried out by the former Bantaeng Tax Head, Wawan Ridwan. Allegedly, the business was founded by using bribes from taxpayers.

The investigation was carried out by investigators by examining several witnesses on Tuesday, December 21 yesterday. Those examined were Evidence from The Time Place Tunjungan Plaza Manager, Efendy Mulyo Winata; AMPM Watch Pakuwon Trade Centre, Roby Suhartono; and a private party named Ridwan Bin Saik.

In addition, the KPK also examined representatives of PT Kedaung Satrya Motor; Director of PT Sentratek Metalindo named Cecep; and Widyawati who is a private party. The investigation was carried out at the Surabaya Police Station and the KPK Red and White Building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta.

"The witnesses were present and their knowledge was studied, among others, related to the business activities of the suspect WR, who is suspected in establishing this business there was a flow of money from the taxpayer's gift, whose tax calculation value was engineered by the suspect WR", said KPK Spokesperson for Enforcement, Ali Fikri, to reporters on Wednesday, December 22.

Actually, investigators will also examine a witness named Adianto Widjaja who is a private party. However, he was not present and will be rescheduled.

Previously, the KPK arrested and detained the former Bantaeng Tax Head, Wawan Ridwan, who is a new suspect in the tax bribery case at the Directorate General of Taxes at the Ministry of Finance. This action was taken because he was considered uncooperative.

Wawan was named a suspect along with the former Head of the Examining Team at the Directorate of Audit and Collection at the Directorate General of Taxes, Alfred Simanjuntak. This determination has been made since the beginning of last November.

In this case, it was revealed that Wawan received money which was then handed over to two officials at the Directorate General of Taxes at the Ministry of Finance, namely Angin Prayitno and Dadan Ramdani, who had previously been named as suspects.

The receipt of this money occurred several times in the period 2018-2019. In January-February 2018, Wawan received IDR 15 billion which was handed over by representatives of PT Gunung Madu Plantation.

Then, Wawan again received the money around mid-2018. The amount of money he received reached 500 thousand Singapore dollars which were handed over by representatives of PT Bank PAN Indonesia from a total commitment of IDR 25 billion.

Next, he again received the money in July-September 2019 with a value of up to 3 million Singapore dollars which was handed over from representatives of PT Jhonlin Baratama. Of the total receipts, Wawan was later said to have received a share of 625 thousand Singapore dollars.

Not only that but Wawan is also suspected of receiving money from other taxpayers as a form of gratuity. However, the KPK has not detailed the amount of money because it is still being investigated.