Djaka Budi's Name Dragged into Customs Bribery Case, Purbaya: I Understand What Has Happened

JAKARTA — Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa says he understands the circumstances surrounding the alleged bribery case that has dragged the name of Director General of Customs Djaka Budi Utama into court. Djaka is said to have been among those present at a meeting with BlueRay Cargo owner John Field at the Borobudur Hotel. Field has been named a suspect for offering bribes to officials at the Directorate General of Customs (DJBC).

‘Sir Djaka and I communicate every day. But what is clear is that I understand what happened,’ Purbaya told reporters when asked whether he had spoken to Djaka, at the Office of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Jakarta, on Thursday (21 May 2026).

However, he declined to elaborate on the meaning of his statement, particularly what he claimed to understand.

‘If the trial, I won’t get involved; I will simply see how the result turns out. If people accuse, that can happen, but if proven, then that’s it,’ he said.

He also confirmed that he would follow President Prabowo Subinanto’s instructions to remove Djaka from the post of Director General of Customs if indeed proven guilty in the alleged bribery case.

‘That should be so (to be dismissed), if proven,’ Purbaya said.

Conspiracy between PT Blueray and several parties within the Directorate General of Customs occurred in October 2025. The KPK has named several suspects in the case. Among them were Rizal, Director of Enforcement and Investigation of DJBC for 2024-2026; and Head of Intelligence Subdirectorate P2 DJBC, Sisprian Subiaksono; then Head of Intelligence Section for Customs Enforcement I, Directorate of Enforcement and Investigation of the Dirjen Bea-Cukai, Orlando Hamonangan or Ocoy; and Head of the Intelligence Section for Customs Enforcement and Investigation (P2) DJBC, Budiman Bayu Prasojo.

In the proceedings Ocoy testified he was ordered by Sisprian to arrange a meeting with John. The meeting took place at the Borobudur Hotel on 22 July 2025 from around 20:00 to 22:00 WIB.

Prosecutors also questioned whether the meeting was attended by Director General of Customs Djaka Budi Utama.