Businessman says he bribed journalists<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Businessman Robby Tjahyadi acknowledged
\nyesterday that he paid Rp 5 million ($2,400) to a journalist amid
\ngrowing press speculation that his Kanindo Group was having
\nsevere financial difficulties.<\/p>\n
Robby yesterday fulfilled an invitation by the Association of
\nIndonesian Journalists (PWI) to give his version of the bribe
\nscandal after the association expelled one of its members for
\nextorting money from Robby early this year.<\/p>\n
Robby, who arrived with four bodyguards, told the PWI
\nexecutives that he gave the money to Peter Tomasoa, a journalist
\nof the Neraca economic daily newspaper. The money was returned
\nwhen it became apparent that news of the condition of his company
\nwas being reported by virtually all newspapers in the country.<\/p>\n
\"Robby has explained it all. As to whether it is true or not,
\nwe are still looking for more facts,\" PWI Chairman Sofyan Lubis
\ntold reporters after the meeting.<\/p>\n
Peter reportedly told Robby that the Rp 5 million was to be
\ndistributed among 10 journalists, at Rp 500,000 per person, in
\nreturn for agreement that they would write favorably about the
\nKanindo Group.<\/p>\n
Peter lost his job at Neraca and was expelled from PWI for
\nviolating the association's code of ethics.<\/p>\n
Peter has since complained that the PWI's action was one-sided
\nand that he planned to bring Robby to court for trying to bribe
\njournalists.<\/p>\n
Sofyan said he did not rule out the possibility of pressing
\ncharges against Robby under the anti-corruption and press laws.<\/p>\n
Difficulties<\/p>\n
News reports alleging that Robby's Kanindo Group was having
\ndifficulties in repaying its debts came in February, just a few
\nweeks after the disclosure of the debt scandal at Golden Key
\nGroup.<\/p>\n
Robby was then invited to clear his name by the Golkar faction
\nin the House of Representatives. During the hearing, the
\nbusinessman shed tears as he explained that his company, which
\nwas employing thousands of people in the textile industry, was
\nsolid and that the problem began with the negative publicity in
\nthe press.<\/p>\n
There was no mention at the time that he had tried to buy off
\na number of journalists.<\/p>\n
Robby made headlines in the early 1970s when he was found to
\nhave been at the head of a syndicate smuggling luxury cars.<\/p>\n
After serving a two-and-half-year prison term, he built a new
\nbusiness empire concentrating in textiles.<\/p>\n
He told the DPR hearing that he had obtained a total of Rp 400
\nbillion in loans from two government banks, but that these could
\nhardly be called doubtful loans since their repayment is not yet
\ndue. (prs)<\/p>",
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