Finance Minister Purbaya's Statement on Temporary Suspension of Customs Director General After His Name Surfaces in Corruption Case

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has spoken out regarding the possibility of temporarily suspending the Director General of Customs, Djaka Budhi Utama, after his name surfaced in an alleged corruption case within the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC), currently under investigation by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

He stated that no suspension of Djaka will be carried out for now, as the Ministry of Finance is still seeking clarity on his involvement in the alleged corruption case.

“No (temporary suspension will be done). I don’t yet know clearly what this is like,” Purbaya said at the Ministry of Finance in Jakarta on Thursday, 7 May 2026.

“This (his name) was just mentioned last night in one media outlet, right, in the court,” he added.

When asked further whether the ministry would proceed with a suspension if Djaka is proven to be involved in the case, Purbaya only said that they would first observe the continuation of the legal process in the case.

“We’ll see what the continuation of the process is like,” he said.

It is known that the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) of the Ministry of Finance, through the Deputy Head of Public Relations and Customs Education Subdivision, Budi Prasetiyo, emphasised that they will respect the court’s legal process involving the name of Director General of Customs and Excise, Djaka Budhi Utama.

Djaka’s name emerged in the indictment of the defendant and owner of Blueray Cargo, John Field. Nevertheless, Budi stated that they will continue to uphold the principle of presumption of innocence.

“Since this case has entered the trial stage, to respect and maintain the independence of that process, we will not comment on the substance of the case,” Budi said in his statement on Thursday, 7 May 2026.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is still awaiting developments in the investigation of the alleged corruption case within DJBC, following the emergence of Director General Djaka’s name. KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo explained that the investigation into the alleged corruption at Customs and Excise is still ongoing, after KPK investigators found several sums of money during searches some time ago.

Previously, on 4 February 2026, the KPK conducted a sting operation (OTT) within the Directorate General of Customs and Excise of the Ministry of Finance. In that operation, one of the parties secured was the Head of the West Sumatra Regional Customs Office, Rizal.