TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) continues to probe on PT Wahana Auto Ekamarga, official car dealer overseeing Jaguar, Land Rover, and Bentley, after its commissioner Darwin Masplom allegedly bribed four Directorate General of Taxation employees.

The four of them have gone under KPK’s microscope after they allegedly received bribe up to Rp1.8 billion for falsifying administrative work in 2015 and 2016 in bargain for a government tax restitution. The four tax employees have been detained by the KPK since October this year.

PT Wahana Auto Ekamarga initially continues the business of PT Grandauto Dinamika, which is listed as an official brand-holder sole distributor (ATPM) since early 2000. Both companies now are under the management of parent company Samling Group with headquarters in Malaysia.

KPK’s investigation further found that the company had allegedly doctored its car imports invoices since 2000 which eyes on reducing the cars’ prices for more than half.

“By slashing the import prices, the taxes that need to be paid will be greatly reduced,” said a law enforcer as quoted from Tempo Magazine’s November 4 edition. Meanwhile, PT Wahana Auto Ekamarga’s lawyer, Andy Kelana, completely denies KPK’s allegations.

Read more about the story in the latest Tempo Magazine entitled; “Luxury Car Tax Breaks Scandal.”

ANDITA RAHMA | TEMPO MAGAZINE