T

he Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has summoned several names for questioning in a bribery scandal allegedly implicating tax officials and investment company PT Bhakti Investama.

Bhakti Investama CEO Hary Tanoesoedibjo, who was scheduled for questioning on Wednesday, did not show up at the KPK. Instead, the media tycoon held a press conference at his office in Central Jakarta.

“Today, I heard that [the KPK] had summoned several names from Bhakti Investama including myself. However, up until today I never received the summons [letter],” Hary told journalists on Wednesday.

He said he had consulted with his team of lawyers and decided to go to the KPK office on Friday.

“I will voluntarily go to the KPK [office] on Friday after prayers. This is based on my goodwill, even though I know nothing about the case.”

The KPK also summoned four other Bhakti Investama officials including directors Darma Putra and Wandhy Wira Riady as well as financial staffers Maya and Lany.

The alleged bribery scandal came to light after KPK investigators arrested Tommy Hindratno, an official with East Java’s Sidoarjo Tax Office, and James Gunarjo, a businessman who is believed to be connected with Bhakti Investama.

The two men were caught red handed and KPK investigators confiscated Rp 285 million (US$29,680) from them. Later, the KPK declared the two men suspects in the case.

Tommy allegedly acted as a middleman between a tax auditor and Bhakti Investama, which expected to receive a restitution amounting to Rp 3.4 billion for its overpaid tax.

Nevertheless, Hary claimed that he did not know James or Tommy.

“I’m personally concerned about the media reports stating that [Bhakti Investama] is implicated in this bribery case. It’s not logical because Bhakti has always been obedient in paying its tax,” he said.

“And especially because the case involves people that we don’t know.”

Following the arrest of Tommy and James, KPK investigators raided and confiscated several documents from Bhakti Investama’s office on the fifth floor of the MNC Tower in Central Jakarta and James’ residence in South Jakarta, last week.

On the same day, the KPK also raided PT Agis, on MNC Tower’s sixth floor, in which Bhakti Investama owned 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, because he is believed to have instructed James to pay Tommy the bribes.