Tax consultant on trial for allegedly bribing Gayus

A tax consultant went on trial today at the South Jakarta District Court for alleged bribery that cost the state Rp 15 billion [US$1.76 million].

The consultant, Roberto Santonius, is charged with bribing graft convict Gayus H. Tambunan, a former tax officer, to ensure a favorable outcome in a tax dispute between PT Metropolitan Retailmart, a company that he represented, and the tax directorate general.

“We have garnered convincing evidence that proves Santonius had given Rp 925 million of bribe money to Gayus Halomoan Tambunan in order to win the tax dispute,” Prosecutor Heru Widarmoko said Monday as quoted by kompas.com.

Heru said that if proven guilty Santonius would face five years in prison.