KPK Does Not Want To Rush To Determine Legal Status Even Though Siwi Widi Receives Money From The Ex-Directorate General Of Taxes' Son

KPK Building/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - Former Garuda Indonesia flight attendant Siwi Widi admitted that she received and spent money from the son of the former employee of the Directorate General of Taxes, Wawan Ridwan, Muhammad Farsha Kautsar. Even so, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is not in a hurry to determine Siwi's legal status.

In the trial of the bribery, gratification, and money laundering (TPPU) case that ensnared former employee of the Directorate General of Taxes Wawan Ridwan, it was revealed that Siwi Widi received and used IDR 647 million from Muhammad Farsha. As a witness, she admitted that there was a transfer from April to July 2019.

"There was a transfer from Farsha's account from April 2019 to July 2019," said Siwi Widi at the Jakarta Corruption Court (Tipikor) as reported by Antara, Tuesday, May 10.

"At that time I became a close friend of Farsha. Farsha claimed to be 28 years old, as a businessman, not a student. He tried to approach me and there was a chat where he tried to get my attention by paying me something," she added.

Siwi Widi later admitted that the money had been used for various personal interests. Including buying a Gucci branded jacket, traveling, to treatment in South Korea.

"Is it true for traveling abroad, buying bags like BAP mother number 22 for sightseeing, shopping, buying Gucci jackets, and for beauty treatments in Korea?" asked the Public Prosecutor (JPU) of the KPK.

"Yes, I remember that," said Siwi.

Siwi admitted that at that time Farsha did not tell her what business she was doing. She also explained that her close relationship with the son of a former employee of the Directorate General of Taxes only lasted for four months.

During that period, Siwi admitted that she never met Farsha's parents because they were forbidden. Not only that, she mentioned Farsha who approached her first.

"He (Farsha, ed) likes to ask me where I'm flying, then he goes on a business flight, that time to Aceh," she said.

"He tried to (contact via) my WhatsApp. I don't know who he got my number from. He said it was from a friend but I never knew the story from whom, then it continued to Instagram and I happened to be still serving as a flight attendant in Yogyakarta. That's the first time to meet Farsha," added Siwi.

Meanwhile, Farsha, who was presented as a witness, also confirmed Siwi's statement. He also admitted to sending money through the account because the former flight attendant wanted to buy an item.

"At that time the person concerned (Siwi, ed) asked to buy an item and I bought the item and I transferred it to Widi at that time," he said.

Although Siwi has admitted that the money was received, the KPK does not want to rush to determine her status in this case. Acting KPK Spokesperson for Enforcement, Ali Fikri, said his agency would conduct an analysis of the legal facts presented at the trial.

"All the facts of the trial will be analyzed first by the prosecutor's team," said Ali in his written statement.

This step, continued Ali, was carried out because the legal facts revealed at the trial needed to be strengthened with two pieces of evidence. Thus, the KPK cannot simply name a suspect.

"As long as based on this trial process it turns out that legal facts are obtained based on at least two valid pieces of evidence, of course, this case can be developed further," he said.

"We are waiting for developments," added Ali.

It was previously reported that Siwi in the indictment was said to have received a transfer of IDR 647,850,000 from April 8, 2019, to July 23, 2019, whose money came from Wawan Ridwan.

Meanwhile, Wawan Ridwan, while serving as an Intermediate Tax Auditor at the Directorate of Audit and Collection for the 2014 - 2019 period, received orders from Angin Prayitno through Dadan Ramdani to get a fee from the audited taxpayers.

The money was divided by 50 percent for structural officials consisting of the Director and Head of the Sub-Directorate, while 50 percent for the inspection team with Wawan's distribution to get a total of 606,250 Singapore dollars or around IDR 6.47 billion.