Finance Minister Purbaya Has Communicated with Customs Chief After Being Implicated in Bribery Case

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has admitted to communicating directly with Director General of Customs Djaka Budi Utama regarding the emergence of Djaka’s name in the indictment of an alleged bribery case for import permit facilitation that ensnares Blueray Cargo Group leader, John Field.

Purbaya said that Djaka stated he would follow the entire ongoing legal process. However, Djaka’s legal status so far remains limited to being mentioned in the indictment, with no further determination yet.

“I have (communicated). He (Director General Djaka) will follow the applicable legal process. This isn’t anything yet, it’s still new,” Purbaya told reporters at the Ministry of Finance, Jakarta, on Thursday (6/5/2026).

“No (deactivation). Not until it’s clear what’s going on there. The process is just starting. The name just appeared, why stop immediately,” he said.

According to Purbaya, administrative steps will only be decided after the case has legal clarity.

He also assured that the ministry will provide legal assistance if needed, as done for other officials facing legal processes.

However, Purbaya emphasised that such assistance is not a form of intervention in law enforcement.

“There will be if called and so on. Others also have assistance. Not intervention,” he said.

The public prosecutor read the indictment against three defendants, namely John Field, Dedy Kurniawan Sukolo as Operational Manager of Customs Clearance at the Port, and Andri as Head of the Import Documents Team.

The indictment states that in July 2025, a meeting took place at Hotel Borobudur attended by several customs officials and cargo entrepreneurs.