Jakarta. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has named three officials at the North Jakarta Tax Office as suspects following their arrest on Saturday over allegations of granting illegal tax relief to a mining company in exchange for cash and gold.

A tax consultant and a company executive have also been named suspects in the case, bringing the total number of suspects to five.

During the operation, investigators seized Rp 793 million in cash, S$165,000, and 1.3 kilograms of gold, said Asep Guntur Rahayu, Deputy for Enforcement at the Corruption Eradication Commission.

Asep said the three tax officials deliberately and unlawfully reduced the property tax obligations of Wanatiara Persada, a nickel mining firm, for personal gain.

Toward the end of 2025, the suspects informed the company of an alleged Rp 75 billion (approx. $4.5 million) shortfall in land and building tax payments for the 2023 tax year. The company disputed the figure, prompting a clarification process.

During that process, Agus Syaifudin, head of the supervision section at the North Jakarta Tax Office, allegedly offered to reduce the tax assessment to Rp 15 billion in exchange for a Rp 8 billion fee to be shared among his team, including North Jakarta Tax Office head Dwi Budi and appraisal team member Askob Bahtiar.

“In subsequent developments, Wanatiara Persada agreed to pay only Rp 4 billion of the requested fee,” Asep said.

Following the alleged agreement, the tax appraisal team issued a tax assessment letter requiring Wanatiara Persada to pay Rp 15.7 billion — far below the initial Rp 75 billion figure.

To facilitate the payment of the alleged bribe, Wanatiara Persada used the services of a tax consulting firm owned by Abdul Kadim Sahbudin, who has also been named a suspect. In January 2026, the funds were allegedly distributed to several tax officials and other related parties, Asep said, without providing further details.

The fifth suspect is an executive of Wanatiara Persada, identified by the initials EY.

The KPK said the investigation is ongoing and further charges remain possible as authorities continue to trace financial flows and assets linked to the case.