TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Hutomo Mandala Putra a.k.a. Tommy Suharto, the youngest son of the late president Suharto, denied allegations that he had received bribes from Rolls-Royce. Tommy is accused of receiving a bribe in return for recommending the British aerospace group's engines to state airline, Garuda Indonesian.
In a letter sent to Britain's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) director David Green on Monday, Tommy's lawyer Elza Syarief asserted that Tommy "did not, and has never, received money or a car from Rolls-Royce and nor did he recommend their engines to Garuda, as alleged," the letter read as Reuters quoted.
These accusations, the letter read, are false and have arisen, it appears, via internet comments posted by an ex-employee, not through any formal source."
A Rolls-Royce spokesman was unavailable for comment when contacted by Reuters. An SFO spokeswoman also declined to comment on the letter. Earlier this year, Rolls-Royce appointed lawyer David Gold to lead a review of its compliance procedures after the allegations emerged.
Last year, the SFO suspected Rolls-Royce of bribery and corruption in China, Indonesia and other countries. The SFO then ordered the world's second largest aircraft engine manufacturer to hand over details for further inquiry investigation. In late 2012, a British newspaper reported claims from a former Rolls-Royce employee that Tommy had received US$20 million in cash and a Rolls-Royce car to persuade Garuda to buy Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines in 1990.
ANANDA TERESIA REUTERS
