JAKARTA, Legal Literacy — The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) searched the office of the Directorate General of Taxes (DJP) of the Ministry of Finance regarding the handling of alleged bribery cases for reducing tax values at the North Jakarta Intermediate Tax Office (KPP). Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said the search was related to alleged violations of the law by tax officials and asked the public to follow the ongoing legal process.

"What's wrong? Yes, maybe there is a violation, just look at what the process is like," said Purbaya when met in South Jakarta, Wednesday (1/14/2026).

The KPK previously named a number of tax officials as suspects in early 2026. In the development of the case, the anti-corruption agency also named a total of five suspects in the alleged bribery case for reducing tax values at the North Jakarta Intermediate KPP, with the potential for tax revenue leakage which is said to be almost IDR 60 billion.

Even though the case is being handled by the KPK, Purbaya stated that the Ministry of Finance will continue to provide legal assistance to the suspects. The reason is, they are still employees of the Ministry of Finance as long as there is no court decision stating that they are guilty.

"We will continue to assist, but there is no intervention. In the sense that I come to them, stop this, stop that, no," said Purbaya.

DJP stated that it was cooperative with the law enforcement steps taken by the KPK. Director of Counseling, Services and Public Relations of the DJP, Rosmauli, said that the DJP respects the legal process and is ready to provide the necessary support in accordance with the regulations.

"Regarding the search activities by KPK investigators within the DJP, we are cooperative and ready to provide the necessary support fully in accordance with the regulations," said Rosmauli.

The KPK said the case began when PT Wanatiara Persada reported its 2023 tax obligations in September 2025. The inspection team from the North Jakarta Intermediate KPP then carried out an inspection related to the potential for underpayment. The company submitted an objection to the results of the inspection, and in the objection process there was allegedly bargaining between the company and officials at the North Jakarta Intermediate KPP.

In the list of suspects mentioned by the KPK, the recipients of bribes/gratifications consisted of Dwi Budi Iswahyu as Head of the North Jakarta Intermediate KPP, Agus Syaifudin as Head of the Supervision and Consultation Section of the North Jakarta Intermediate KPP, and Askob Bahtiar as an assessment team at the North Jakarta Intermediate KPP. Meanwhile, the bribe givers were Abdul Kadim Sahbudin as a tax consultant for PT Wanatiara Persada and Edy Yulianto as a company staff member.