Former Customs Official Admits Carelessness, Seeks Lighter Sentence in Bribery and Gratuities Case

Former deputy director for intelligence at the Directorate of Enforcement and Investigation of Customs and Excise Sisprian Subiaksono has asked to receive a lighter sentence in a case involving alleged bribery and gratuities. However, Sisprian said he understood that he must face the legal consequences.

“If the Honourable Panel of Judges sees fit, I therefore ask for the lightest or lowest possible prison sentence, fine and restitution, with a substitute sentence for the fine,” Sisprian said as he read his personal defence plea at the Central Jakarta Corruption Court on Friday (30 October 2026).

Sisprian said he first learned that Blueray Cargo had allegedly provided money intended for him, amounting to Rp1 billion a month, from a report by Orlando Hamonangan, head of Customs Intelligence Section I at the Directorate of Enforcement and Investigation, around September 2026. Sisprian said Blueray boss John Field had never told him directly about the payments.

Sisprian insisted that he had never received the money. He said he deeply regretted the matter and wished he could turn back time to reject the report of the payments immediately.

“The truth is that I never received that money, because I have always stressed to all staff that only funds that can be properly accounted for under the state budget (DIPA) may be kept and managed at the office, as I testified in this trial,” Sisprian said.

“I deeply regret not firmly rejecting the payment reported by Orlando Hamonangan Sianipar. I wish I could turn back time and change my attitude at that moment,” he added.

Sisprian said he had been confused and shocked at the time, and thought that if the money was returned to Blueray, it would be used to strengthen the company’s network with Customs and Excise’s adversaries. He then asked Orlando to keep the money.

“I eventually asked Orlando to store it, in case there was a major operational need one day and the funds could be used. It never crossed my mind to take control of the money,” he said.

Sisprian also said he had never instructed Orlando or Fillar Marindra to leak any data to Blueray. He insisted that he had not asked Orlando to request money from the company.

“I reiterate that I never initiated, instructed or ordered Orlando Hamonangan Sianipar to ask Blueray or John Field for any money. Likewise, I never instructed either Orlando Hamonangan Sianipar or Fillar Marindra to hand over any data to Blueray,” he said.

Sisprian also asked the judges to consider Orlando’s track record. He said he did not know the details of who had provided the unofficial operational funds from private companies in the case, or how they were used.

“Honourable Judges, from the beginning of the trial I have had no intention of being evasive or concealing anything. I have said that I knew about operational funds provided by importers and excise businesspeople,” Sisprian said.

“But I did not know who provided them or the details of their use, because we did not intend to take control of the funds or divide them among ourselves, so we felt there was no need to keep accounts for them,” he added.

Sisprian said he regretted his carelessness, which had tarnished Customs and Excise. He said he had served the agency for 30 years.

“Honourable Judges, as I testified earlier, I deeply regret that my carelessness and negligence caused immeasurable damage to Customs and Excise, the institution to which I devoted myself day and night for more than 30 years, yet I was also the one who damaged it. I devoted all my energy and thought to its achievements and success, but in a moment I was also the one who brought it down to the deepest pit,” he said.

Sisprian said the prosecution’s demand for a 10-year prison sentence was very severe. He reiterated that he had never ordered Orlando to solicit money and had never attended events organised by Orlando.

“However, I consider the demand for 10 years in prison, a Rp1 billion fine, and restitution of Rp7.4 billion, SGD150,000 and US$10,000 to be very severe. I never initiated a request for payments from Blueray or instructed Orlando to ask for money,” Sisprian said.

“Let alone set such a large amount to be requested from Blueray or John Field; nor was it proven that Blueray received a change of route or any other preferential treatment,” he added.

In this case, Sisprian Subiaksono has been charged with 10 years in prison, a Rp1 billion fine, with 190 days’ detention in lieu of payment, and restitution of Rp7.4 billion, SGD150,000 and US$10,000, with a three-year prison term in default.