JAKARTA. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)’s attempt to disclose a bribery case within the Tax Directorate General of the Ministry of Finance stumbled upon another block during the search in two locations in South Kalimantan.
KPK’s investigators conducted the search last Friday at PT Jhonlin Baratama’s office and in another location in Kotabaru Regency, South Kalimantan. However, when they arrived at the said locations, KPK failed to find the evidence.
“Presumably, the evidence was intentionally eliminated by certain parties,” Ali Fikri, KPK Spokesperson, stated to Tempo.
According to idnfinancials.com, Jhonlin Baratama is a coal manufacturer and exporter established in 2003. It is one of the businesses owned by Samsudin Andi Arsyad, also known as Haji Isam, a South Kalimantan conglomerate, a close acquaintance of President Joko Widodo.
The search was a part of an investigation regarding the tax bribery allegation done by several companies to the Tax Directorate General in 2016 and 2017. Additionally, KPK has searched Bank Panin and PT Gunung Madu Plantations in Lampung.
This morning, there was circulating news about a certain KPK official secretly asked the senior investigators to delay the search at Jhonlin Baratama. Furthermore, the said official also requested for the investigators not to depart to South Kalimantan.
However, there have been no further official statements from KPK regarding the allegation. (KR/ZH)