Ina Parlina, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | National | Wed, June 13 2012, 12:52 PM
Hary Tanoesoedibjo: Media tycoon. (JP/R. Berto Wedhatama)
Media tycoon Hary Tanoesoedibjo was summonsed by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for questioning on Wednesday as a witness in a recent bribery case implicating his investment company, PT Bhakti Investama.
Hary was scheduled to face KPK investigators at around 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., but so far has not turned up.
"Yes [he was summonsed] as a witness for the two suspects in the case [Tommy Hindratno and James Gunarjo]," KPK spokesman Johan Budi said on Wednesday morning.
Johan said, however, that he did not know what information the investigators needed from Hary.
The KPK arrested Tommy, an official at the Sidoarjo Tax Office, and James Gunarjo, who is believed to be connected with Bhakti Investama, immediately after Tommy reportedly paid Rp 280 million (US$29,680) in bribes to James last week.
Tommy allegedly acted as a middleman to ensure reimbursement of Rp 3.4 billion in taxes that the company supposedly had overpaid.
The KPK also summonsed four other Bhakti Investama officials for questioning as witnesses in the case on Wednesday. They are Bhakti Investama directors Darma Putra and Wandhy Wira Riady, as well as financial staffers Maya and Lany.
Last week, KPK investigators raided Bhakti Investama’s office on the fifth floor of the MNC Tower in Central Jakarta and James' residence in South Jakarta.
That same day, the KPK also raided PT Agis, located on MNC Tower’s sixth floor, in which Bhakti Investama owned Agis shares in 2002 and 2004.
On June 8, the immigration office slapped a one-year travel ban on Bhakti Investama independent commissioner Antonius Z. Tonberg, who was also previously a director of Agis.
Antonius is believed to have instructed James to pay Tommy the bribes.
Hary, who acts as Bhakti's CEO, recently joined the newly established National Democratic (Nasdem) Party founded by Surya Paloh, another media tycoon.
Bhakti Investama has repeatedly denied any involvement in the case. (mtq)
