JAKARTA (JP): City Police Chief Mochammad Hindarto hinted

JAKARTA (JP): City Police Chief Mochammad Hindarto hinted Saturday that Robby Tjahyadi, the owner of Kanindo Group, could face questioning in relation to a bribery scandal.

"By law, police can investigate anybody, whether or not we receive reports or complaints, as long as there is adequate evidence indicating that wrongdoing has taken place," he told reporters.

Hindarto refused to say when the police might summon Robby, who made headlines in the early 1970s when he was found to have masterminded the smuggling of luxury cars.

Robby, a businessman whose textile company is reportedly having financial difficulties, is believed to have tried to bribe a journalist and members of the House of Representatives (DPR) after a hearing at the House in a bid to stifle press reports about his debt problems.

Robby acknowledged at a hearing with executives of the Indonesian Journalists' Association (PWI) two weeks ago that he paid Rp 5 million (US$2,400) to Peter Tomasoa, a senior journalist working for the Neraca economic daily newspaper.

Peter, who was expelled from PWI and Neraca daily, said that the money was to be distributed among 10 journalists, at Rp 500,000 ($230) per person, so that they would agree to write favorably about Robby's business group.

Peter reportedly later returned the money when it became apparent that the actual condition of Robby's company was being reported by virtually all newspapers and magazines in the country.

Robby also reportedly gave a total of Rp 8 million ($3,720) in bribes to 10 members of the DPR to take public pressure off his firm.

Robby could not be reached for comment on this allegation.

News reports that Robby's Kanindo Group was having difficulties in repaying its debts emerged in February, just a few weeks after the disclosure of the Rp 1.3 trillion debt scandal at Golden Key Group.

The businessman was later invited by the Golkar faction in the DPR for a hearing, during which he shed tears as he explained that his company, which employs thousands of people in the textile industry, was solid and that the problem began with the negative publicity in the press.

Despite the meeting, several members of the DPR continued to express the belief that Robby's textile empire is facing serious debt problems. (bsr)