In a follow-up to its January 2026 sting operation arresting eight in the PT Wanatiara Persada tax bribery case, Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) highlighted the scandal as exemplifying the state revenue leaks warned about by President Prabowo Subianto in his book, underscoring harm to national development.
Jakarta – Building on the tax bribery case at the North Jakarta Madya Tax Service Office detailed in prior coverage, KPK Acting Deputy for Enforcement and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu linked the PT Wanatiara Persada scandal to President Prabowo Subianto's book “Paradoks Indonesia dan Solusinya.” “President Prabowo has stated there are leaks in revenue or income, particularly in taxes before they enter the state treasury,” Asep said at KPK's Red and White Building on January 11, 2026.
He emphasized that such leaks prevent maximal use of budgets for national development and public services, with taxes—especially from the mining sector via income tax (PPh) and land/building tax (PBB)—forming the backbone of state revenue. “A malicious agreement to reduce taxes owed to the state treasury causes massive losses and injures fiscal justice,” Asep stressed.
The operation, as previously reported, targeted bribery reducing PT Wanatiara Persada's 2021–2026 tax liability, naming five suspects among eight arrests.
