Businessman says he bribed journalists

Businessman says he bribed journalists

JAKARTA (JP): Businessman Robby Tjahyadi acknowledged
yesterday that he paid Rp 5 million ($2,400) to a journalist amid
growing press speculation that his Kanindo Group was having
severe financial difficulties.

Robby yesterday fulfilled an invitation by the Association of
Indonesian Journalists (PWI) to give his version of the bribe
scandal after the association expelled one of its members for
extorting money from Robby early this year.

Robby, who arrived with four bodyguards, told the PWI
executives that he gave the money to Peter Tomasoa, a journalist
of the Neraca economic daily newspaper. The money was returned
when it became apparent that news of the condition of his company
was being reported by virtually all newspapers in the country.

"Robby has explained it all. As to whether it is true or not,
we are still looking for more facts," PWI Chairman Sofyan Lubis
told reporters after the meeting.

Peter reportedly told Robby that the Rp 5 million was to be
distributed among 10 journalists, at Rp 500,000 per person, in
return for agreement that they would write favorably about the
Kanindo Group.

Peter lost his job at Neraca and was expelled from PWI for
violating the association's code of ethics.

Peter has since complained that the PWI's action was one-sided
and that he planned to bring Robby to court for trying to bribe
journalists.

Sofyan said he did not rule out the possibility of pressing
charges against Robby under the anti-corruption and press laws.

Difficulties

News reports alleging that Robby's Kanindo Group was having
difficulties in repaying its debts came in February, just a few
weeks after the disclosure of the debt scandal at Golden Key
Group.

Robby was then invited to clear his name by the Golkar faction
in the House of Representatives. During the hearing, the
businessman shed tears as he explained that his company, which
was employing thousands of people in the textile industry, was
solid and that the problem began with the negative publicity in
the press.

There was no mention at the time that he had tried to buy off
a number of journalists.

Robby made headlines in the early 1970s when he was found to
have been at the head of a syndicate smuggling luxury cars.

After serving a two-and-half-year prison term, he built a new
business empire concentrating in textiles.

He told the DPR hearing that he had obtained a total of Rp 400
billion in loans from two government banks, but that these could
hardly be called doubtful loans since their repayment is not yet
due. (prs)