Judge Warns Customs Case Witness: You Could Go to Hell Forever

A judge has reminded a witness in a case of alleged bribery related to the importation of goods within the Directorate General of Customs and Excise at the Ministry of Finance to give truthful testimony. Sisprian Subiaksono, Head of the Intelligence Sub-Directorate for the Directorate of Enforcement and Investigation, was presented as a witness at the Corruption Court in Central Jakarta on Wednesday (10/6). The defendants in the trial are Blueray Cargo (Group) head John Field, Dedy Kurniawan Sukolo as Port Customs Clearance Operational Manager at Blueray Cargo (Group), and Defendant III Andri as Head of the Import Documentation Team at Blueray Cargo (Group). During the hearing, the prosecutor initially reminded Sisprian not to use the word ‘maybe’ when testifying. ‘Do not use the word maybe, Sir. In court we cannot use the word maybe. With the Panel’s permission, the Chief Judge will re-emphasise the use of the word maybe so the witness understands,’ the prosecutor said. The judge then reminded Sisprian not to use the word ‘maybe’. The judge asked Sisprian to testify to what he saw, heard and experienced. ‘Possibility is something that… something that cannot be confirmed, yes. Maybe this, maybe that, yes? Witness testimony cannot be like that,’ the judge said. The judge also asked the witness to answer ‘don’t know’ if he truly did not know what was being asked. The judge reminded Sisprian that he was under oath. ‘If the witness has no conviction, has no faith, perhaps he can be casual about it. But if the witness has faith, has religion, yes. Any religion, yes. It forbids saying something that is not true, yes. Lying, especially as a witness, yes. There is a criminal threat, but an even heavier threat, yes, later when accountability is demanded in the hereafter, yes?’ the judge said. ‘Yes, Your Honour,’ Sisprian replied. The judge again reminded Sisprian to give testimony as it is, not benefiting or harming anyone. ‘For example, to benefit anyone, what for? What does the witness get, yes? In the hereafter you will enter hell forever, yes, just because of testimony alone. We remind you of that,’ the judge said. ‘Yes, Your Honour,’ said Sisprian. John Field as head of Blueray Cargo (Group) is accused of bribing several officials at the Directorate General of Customs and Excise with Rp61 billion and providing entertainment facilities and luxury goods worth Rp1.8 billion. The bribery crime was committed by John Field together with Defendant II Dedy Kurniawan Sukolo and Defendant III Andri. The bribe recipients consist of Directorate of Enforcement and Investigation Director Rizal, Head of the Intelligence Sub-Directorate Sisprian Subiaksono, and Head of Customs Intelligence Section I Orlando Hamonangan. The cluster of Customs and Excise officials will be prosecuted in a separate case file. The prosecutor stated the bribes were given so that officials at the Directorate General of Customs and Excise would expedite the release of imported goods belonging to Blueray Cargo (Group) from the customs supervision process.