REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) examined former state-owned airline company Garuda Indonesia president director Emirsyah Satar on Monday (April 16). He was questioned by the anti-graft body investigators as a witness in alleged bribery case related to the national flag carriers procurement of engines from Airbus SAS and Rolls-Royce PLC.
"Emirsyah is examined as witness for suspect Soetikno Soedarjo," said KPK spokesperson Febri Diansyah on Monday (April 16).
Emirsyah arrived at KPK building around 10:00 am . However, he refused to comment related to his examination today.
Not only Emirsyah, KPK also summoned two witnesses to other suspects in the case, namely retired employees of PT Garuda Indonesia Capt Agus Wahjudo and Dwiningsih Haryanti Putri from private sector.
KPK investigation was prompted by a report from United Kingdom's Serious Fraud Office. The office stated that they discovered allegations of bribery and corruption involving senior Rolls-Royce aerospace employees in transactions with Indonesian businessmen and officials in several occasions from July 2011 to March 2012.
Former Garuda Indonesia president director Emirsyah Satar climbs the stairs at KPK office, Jakarta, to meet the investigators. KPK summons him as witness for Soetikno Soedarjo, suspect in procurement of engines from Airbus SAS and Rolls-Royce PLC.
KPK has named Emirsyah as suspect in alleged bribery case related to the purchase of aircraft engines from Rolls Royce on last January 19. He was suspected of accepting several illicit payments totaling 1,2 million euros, 180.000 US dollars or total Rp 20 billion, and other items worth for 2 million US dollars.
Emirsyah served as Garuda chief executive for a decade through 2014, overseeing a debt restructuring and an initial public offering that allowed it to expand its fleet to 134 aircraft. He is currently chairman of Lippo Groups MatahariMall.com, or PT Global ECommerce Indonesia.
Meanwile, Soetikno allegedly acted as an intermediary between British engineering company and Emirsyah in an attempt to secure major deals for Rolls-Royce to provide aircraft engines to at least 12 countries, including Indonesia.