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)