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)