Judge Admits Rp50 Million Bribe in Tax Fraud

Tempo Interactive, Friday, 16 April, 2010 | 15:14 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Presiding judge in the Rp28 billion tax fraud implicating an upper middle level tax official, and now spread to police officers and former diplomat reportedly admitted of receiving Rp50 million for the ruling which acquitted the tax official form three serious graft and financial crime charges last month.

Chief Judge of the Constitution Court Busyro Muqoddas said on Friday (16/4) Judge Muhtadi Asnun at the Tangerang District Court also admitted athat he had held a meeting with the single defendant of the case during questioning by the Constitution Court on Thursday.

Busyro said Muhtadi ordered one of his staffs to bring Gayus Tambunan, the tax official charged with corruption, embezzlement, and money laundry, to his residence.

“He pleaded guilty and regretted (the crime).” Busyro said. The clerical staff which took Gayus to Muhtadi's home was also probed.

The complete unconditional acquittal for GayusTambunan was handed down on March 15th, after about three months of hearings. The case remained undetected by major media until the police internal row made the case squeezed out of its clad on March 19th.

The national police force pushed Gayus Tambunan into the limelight after ex-chief detective Commissioner General Susno Duadji named some of his subordinates involved in tax fraud.

The force lied to the public through a televised press conference that the case is ready for trial, four days after Gayus was acquitted.

The row exploded came after Comm. Gen. Susno lost his chief detective post due to his involvement in Bank Century bail out scandal.

The latest suspect is a former staff of the anti-communist task force under Soeharto and foreign diplomat, Sjahril Djohan.

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