Jokowi in Law Admits Discussing Tax Amnesty with Tax Official

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Arif Budi Sulistyo, brother-in-law of President Joko Widodo, also known as Jokowi, claimed that he met with Finance Ministry's tax director general Ken Dwijugeasteady to discuss tax amnesty. Arif explained that he met Ken with Rudy Priambodo Musdiono, former PT Bangun Bejana Baja director. Arif revealed that he asked Rudy to introduce him to Ken.

"I want to ask about tax amnesty. Is it possible for me to see Ken?" Arif said in his testimony during a bribery case trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Monday, March 20, 2017.

Arif however, denied that he had contacted Jakarta Special Tax Office head Muhammad Haniv to arrange the meeting with Ken. According to Arif, it was Rudy who called Haniv.

Arif told Ken about the tax amnesty for his company. Ken, according to Arif, suggested settling the tax issues in Solo with help from Handang Soekarno, head of preliminary evidence sub-directorate at the Tax Directorate General. Arif asserted that the meeting did not discuss PT EK Prima Ekspor Indonesia's (PT EKP) tax issues.

Earlier, PT EKP director Ramapanicker Rajamohanan Nair was arrested for allegedly bribing Handang to settle the tax issues.

Arif explained that Rajamohan revealed the tax issues after Arif met Ken. Handang flew to Solo to meet Arif and helped him to deal with the company's tax amnesty in Solo. Based on his experience, Arif recommended Handang to help Nair.

Nair is currently indicted for bribing Handang Soekarno to clear PT EKP's tax debts. In order to achieve the goal, Nair asked Arif to introduce him to several tax officials.

Nair testified that Arif was willing to introduce him to Haniv. However, Nair dismissed that he had offer money or gifts to Arif for helping him.

MAYA AYU PUSPITASARI