Tax Appraisers to PT Wanatiara Persada Translator Summoned by the KPK Today

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) summoned six witnesses related to the alleged bribery of tax examinations today. Among them were Boediono, the Young Expert Tax Assessor of the North Jakarta DJP Regional Office and Firman as a translator for PT Wanatiara Persada.

"The examination was carried out at the KPK's Merah Putih building," said KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo to reporters through his written statement, Monday, February 2.

Then for other witnesses who were also summoned were Vera Cahyadi and Silvi Farista Zulhulaifah as Accounting Staff of PT Wanatiara Persada; Asisso Noor Sugono who served as Accounting Manager of PT Wanatiara Persada; and Yurika as Finance Manager of PT Wanatiara Persada.

Currently, Vara, Silvi, Assiso, and Firman have met the KPK's call. They arrived at around 09.51 WIB and are still being questioned.

Budi has not detailed the examination material investigated by investigators. These six witnesses are only said to know the practice of bribery in tax arrangements revealed from the hand-in-hand operation (OTT) some time ago.

"The KPK has scheduled the examination of witnesses in the alleged corruption case related to the tax examination at the Directorate General of Taxes, Ministry of Finance, for the period 2021-2026," said Budi.

As previously reported, the KPK named five suspects in the alleged corruption case of reducing the tax value of the mining sector after conducting a hand-in-hand operation (OTT) on Friday night, January 9. They are the Head of the North Jakarta Sub-KPP Dwi Budi (DWB); Head of the Supervisory and Consulting Section of the North Jakarta Sub-KPP Agus Syaifudin (AGS); and the North Jakarta Sub-KPP Assessment Team Askob Bahtiar (ASB).

Then, it was also determined as a suspect, namely a tax consultant named Abdul Kadim Sahbudin (ABD) and PT Wanatiara Persada staff, Edy Yulianto (EY).

In this case, the KPK seized a number of evidence. Among them were cash, foreign exchange (foreign exchange), and precious metals with a value of IDR 6.38 billion.

The suspects are suspected of making the state lose around IDR 59 billion based on initial calculations. This figure arises due to the adjustment of the amount of Land and Building Tax (PBB) in 2023 which should have been paid by PT Wanatiara Persada.

The company was supposed to pay around Rp75 billion but the value was changed to Rp15.7 billion. The value fell by Rp59.3 billion or 80 percent of the initial value set.

The KPK said this tax reduction then resulted in the payment of fees.

Dwi Budi, Agus Syaifudin, and Askob Bahtiar as the recipients are suspected of violating the provisions of Article 12 letter a or letter b or Article 12B of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Corruption Crimes as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning Amendment to Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Corruption Crimes or Article 606 paragraph (2) of Law Number 1 of 2026 concerning Criminal Adjustment Jo Article 20 of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code (KUHP).

Meanwhile, Abdul Kadim Sahbudin and Edy Yulianto as the grantor were suspected of violating the provisions in Article 5 paragraph (1) letter a or letter b or Article 13 of Law Number 31 of 1999 as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning Eradication of Corruption Crimes Jo Article 20 of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code (KUHP).