TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has named a former tax official Rafael Alun Trisambodo as a suspect for allegedly receiving bribes for 12 years from 2011 to 2023.

“Based on the adequacy of evidence, the KPK has stepped up its investigation on the alleged corruption case of a tax examiner at the Finance Ministry's Tax Directorate General from 2011 to 2023,” said the KPK’s spokesperson Ali Fikri on Thursday, March 30.

Ali said that the gratuity was in the form of money. However, he did not provide details about the amount of money obtained by the taxman. The KPK had searched the latter’s house during the investigation.

“In order to collect evidence, we have searched one of the suspect's houses,” he added.

Ali asked for support from the public who had information and data on this case to report it to the anti-graft commission. Investigators, he went on, would keep collecting evidence to strengthen the case construction so that it could be proven at trial.

The corruption case that ensnared Rafael stemmed from the assault case committed by his son, Mario Dandy Satriyo, which made rounds on social media. Internet users then began to track the profile of Mario who often showed off a lavish lifedata-style. The public attention was thus directed towards Rafael and other family members.

From the results of tracing the State Officials' Wealth Report (LHKPN), Rafael is known to own enormous assets totaling Rp56 billion. The public suspicion was confirmed by the findings of the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) about suspicious transactions allegedly carried out by Rafael and his family worth Rp500 billion over several years.

After being grilled by the KPK on March 24, Rafael denied the corruption accusations. Rafael said his wealth did not increase, but the value surged because of the hike in the object’s value.

“I have reported them since 2011, in 2016, and in 2021. Those have been clarified by the KPK, and by the Attorney General's Office in 2012,” Rafael Alun said.

M ROSSENO AJI

Editor's Choice: KPK Claims Difficult to Criminalize Rafael Alun Trisambodo over Lavish Wealth

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