Denies KPK, APBMI Says Tan Paulin Doesn't Know Rita Widyasari

Rita Widyasari/DOK ANTARA

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Branch Leadership Council (DPC) of the Association of Indonesian Unloading Companies (APBMI) Loies Subono Saminanto denied the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) regarding coal entrepreneur Tan Paulin who is said to know former Kutai Kartanegara (Kukar) Regent Rita Widyasari.

According to him, Tan Paulin did not know Rita Widyasari. In fact, he admitted that he was surprised to see the news as if the mining entrepreneur was related to the corruption case of the former Kukar Regent.

"That to my knowledge Rita Widyasari's mother does not know Tan Paulin, let alone to be withdrawn in cases of gratification and money laundering Rita Widyasari," said Loies Subono in the Tebet area, South Jakarta, Friday, September 20.

Loies Subono said that Tan Paulin is a figure of a Coal entrepreneur who does business in accordance with applicable regulations.

"As far as I know, Tan Paulin has always been a coal entrepreneur whose business concentration is as a coal buyer, and a coal seller," he said.

"So Tan Paulin will buy coal from any company that has legality and as long as there is a sale and purchase agreement with the seller," continued Loies.

In addition, to his knowledge, Tan Paulin bought coal with an official company. Therefore, he considered, it is impossible for Tan Paulin to do business with Rita Widyasari who serves as Regent.

"The sale and purchase of pure coal was carried out by Tan Paulin so far with the company and the company directly without Rita Widyasari's intervention as the Regent at that time," said Loies Subono.

Meanwhile, Tan Paulin was questioned on Thursday, August 29. During the examination process, the KPK excavated its coal company in Kutai Kartanegara.

"Brother TP alias PT is being investigated regarding the company's coal transactions in the Kutai Kartanegara area," said KPK spokesman Tessa Mahardika.