Hotman Paris Speaks Out on Raffi Ahmad Being Dragged into Customs Bribery Case

Senior advocate Hotman Paris Hutapea has spoken out regarding celebrity Raffi Ahmad, who also serves as the President’s Special Envoy for Youth Development and Arts Workers, being dragged into an alleged bribery case related to goods importation within the Directorate General of Customs and Excise at the Ministry of Finance. Hotman admitted that Raffi had asked him to provide legal assistance after becoming entangled in the case. According to Hotman, Raffi Ahmad has been vilified by certain parties in this matter. “Raffi Ahmad called me, requesting legal assistance to fight against all those who have slandered him. He said his name was mentioned in a court hearing concerning Blueray Cargo imports,” Hotman stated in a video uploaded to his Instagram account @hotmanparisofficial, as quoted on Tuesday (9/6). In another video, Hotman revealed that Raffi’s trip to the United States was not made alone, but with other celebrities. Hotman named several top Indonesian celebrities, from Ariel Noah to Gading Martin. “The people who were at that place at the time, dining at Awang Kitchen in New York City, included Ariel Noah, Desta, and Gading Martin. At that time, they were visiting Awang Kitchen, a popular restaurant in New York, United States,” he said. “But suddenly, certain individuals who dislike him made Raffi Ahmad’s name go viral, creating a slanderous narrative as if Raffi Ahmad was involved in the Blueray Cargo import scandal involving customs officials,” he continued. Hotman has not yet spoken further about Raffi’s entanglement in the case. He only explained that he and Raffi Ahmad will hold a press conference on Thursday (11/6) to discuss the matter further. “We will meet on Thursday at 2 p.m. at a location to be determined. Hotman and Raffi Ahmad will hold a press conference in Jakarta,” Hotman said. CNNIndonesia.com has contacted Raffi Ahmad’s representatives regarding the news but has not yet received a response. Previously, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) confirmed that Raffi Ahmad’s name was mentioned in an alleged bribery case related to goods importation within the Directorate General of Customs and Excise. Acting Director of Investigations at the KPK, Achmad Taufik Husein, explained that Raffi’s name emerged because he had visited the Blueray Cargo office in the United States to entrust or send several electronic goods to Indonesia, such as an iPhone 17. “It is true, there is a fact that Mr. RA [Raffi Ahmad] entrusted items,” Taufik said at the KPK’s Red and White Building in Jakarta on Monday (8/6) evening. Raffi’s name first surfaced during a trial at the Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court on Friday (5/6) in the case against defendant John Field, head of Blueray Cargo Group, and his associates. Initially, KPK prosecutors questioned witness Sri Pangestuti, also known as Tuti, a Customs Service Management Entrepreneur, regarding a request to ship a laptop and an iPhone 17 from the US to Indonesia. The request was conveyed by Yohanes, John Field’s personal assistant, when Raffi visited the Blueray Cargo office in the US. “Were you ever asked for help, as seen in this WhatsApp communication, to send a laptop and an iPhone from the United States?” the prosecutor asked during the Friday (5/6) hearing. Tuti confirmed the communication between herself and Yohanes but claimed she was reluctant to fulfil the request. Furthermore, Raffi’s name was also recorded in Yohanes’s official examination report. This was questioned by the prosecutor during a hearing on Wednesday (20/5). “In Examination Report Number 108, there is a cargo consignment in Bali under the name Raffi Ahmad through Nelwan, a Blueray Jakarta employee representing the United States. He entrusted a laptop and a mobile phone. What does the witness say about this?” the prosecutor asked. Yohanes then explained that Nelwan was the Head of the Blueray Cargo Division in the US, and that Raffi was on holiday at the time. “Allow me to explain. So, it was from Ko Nelwan, the head of the America division. Raffi was travelling in America and wanted to entrust a mobile phone. It was the iPhone 17, if I’m not mistaken, which had just been released, to bring into the country,” Yohanes answered. Yohanes also stated that the iPhone 17 was ultimately not sent to Indonesia.