Analyst Says Proof in Customs Case Must Be Conclusive

The emergence of the figure of Rp21 billion during the trial regarding alleged import bribery, which involves several officials from the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC), has once again come under public scrutiny.

Counter-intelligence analysis specialist, R. Gautama Wiranegara, warned that the chain of evidence in the case still leaves important unanswered questions. According to Gautama, the public should not rush to conclude that certain parties received money based solely on the existence of codes in internal company records and admissions from the bribe-givers.

“What must be answered is not who is mentioned in the code, but who actually received the money,” Gautama told reporters on Monday, 15 June 2026.

He explained that during the trial on 12 June 2026, the owner of Blueray Cargo, John Field, confirmed the existence of codes BC1, BC2, and BC3 listed in the company’s payment records. In the construction presented by the prosecutor, BC1 was linked to the Director General of Customs and Excise, Djaka Budi Utama, with a value of Rp3 billion per month for seven months, totalling Rp21 billion.

However, Gautama noted that John Field’s testimony must be read in its entirety. The businessman did not admit to personally witnessing the receipt of money by the party mentioned in the code.

“John confirmed the codes and the explanations he received from Orlando Hamonangan. That is different from seeing the final recipient receive the money himself,” he said.

Gautama assessed that there are other trial facts that have not yet received much public attention. In a previous hearing on 20 May 202lar, Orlando Hamonangan reportedly explained the existence of envelopes marked with codes 1, 2, and 3. However, Orlando admitted he did not know the final recipient of the envelope marked code 1.

“The fact that emerged at that time specifically mentioned that the code 1 envelope was handed to Rizal. This is a very important fact that must not be ignored,” he said.

Therefore, according to Gautama, there is a chain of evidence that must still be uncovered by investigators and prosecutors.

“If on 12 June John mentioned code BC1 based on Orlando’s explanation, while on 20 May Orlando himself admitted not knowing the final recipient of code 1 and that the envelope was with Rizal, then the proof is not yet complete,” he emphasised.