Markus Junianto Sihaloho, Jakarta – Golkar legislator Bambang Susatyo has urged a member of the presidentially appointed Judicial Mafia Eradication Task Force to reconsider his position, alleging a conflict of interest in the investigation of disgraced tax official Gayus Tambunan.

Bambang said the wife of task force member Mas Achmad Santosa, Leliana, was a lawyer for United States energy giant Chevron, whose local unit Chevron Oil Products Indonesia has been alleged to have benefited from the rogue taxman's services.

The legislator is close to Golkar chairman Aburizal Bakrie. Three of Bakrie's companies, Kaltim Prima Coal, Arutmin and Bumi Resources, have also been implicated by Gayus in tax evasion allegations.

Bambang has previously spoken out against Santosa, also known as Ota, for improperly targeting Bakrie for political gain in the long-running scandal.

Speaking on Monday, Bambang said that given the relationship between Leliana and Chevron, it was now clear why Santosa and other members of the task force were focusing on Bakrie's three companies, which are a large part of the Bakrie family empire.

"The Bakrie case is being manipulated by them to cover for other companies, including Chevron," Bambang alleged. "Mas Achmad Santosa must resign from his position on the task force because he is vulnerable to a conflict of interest."

House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Pramono Anung, from the opposition Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, urged Santosa to clarify his stance.

"He must do something in relation to this matter because it could potentially weaken the credibility of the task force," he said. "It's a serious problem, moreover Chevron is one of the biggest taxpayers but it was managed by Gayus, who is known publicly to be a member of the tax mafia."

He said given the public's hopes in the task force, "any allegations of possible nepotism must be cleared up."

Santosa would not respond to the allegations, saying it was an attempt to divert his attention from investigating the tax mafia. He said that if he responded to the accusation it would take up most of his time, which is "what the judicial mafia wants."

The House of Representatives is preparing to establish a special commission to investigate tax mafia practises, including the Gayus case, raising concerns the House's attention will be again diverted from enacting new legislation to further their own interests.