Kortastipidkor Raids Sidoarjo Cafe in Investigation into Used Mobile Phone Import Corruption

Investigators from the Police Corruption Eradication Corps (Kortastipidkor) conducted further searches at several locations in Sidoarjo, East Java, on Thursday (25/6), as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption related to the import of used mobile phones that did not comply with regulations.

Today’s searches targeted the office of PT TSL, the residence of an individual named AHT, and two business premises: Cafe Sulthan and AZ Cafe.

Brigadier General Mulya Hakim Solichin, a senior investigator at Kortastipidkor, stated the searches were conducted based on a court warrant and aimed to gather evidence before naming suspects and completing the case file.

‘This search is based on a warrant from the court and is part of the investigators’ efforts to complete the evidence to determine who can be held criminally responsible and to compile the case file before handing it over to the public prosecutor at the Attorney General’s Office,’ Mulya said at the location.

One of the locations searched was the home of AHT, a manager at PT TSL, who is allegedly linked to the used mobile phone import activities under investigation. From AHT’s residence, investigators seized 37 documents related to banking data and asset ownership.

Meanwhile, the searches at the two cafes were conducted to investigate the possibility of their involvement in a scheme beyond legitimate business operations. ‘Investigators are looking into whether these businesses were solely conducting lawful activities, or if they are suspected of being used as a means to harbour, disguise, or divert profits derived from the illegal mobile phone import activities under investigation,’ Mulya said.

From Cafe Sulthan and AZ Cafe, investigators seized several items, including establishment and licensing documents for CV AHS Entertainment, four Bank BCA account statements in the name of AHS Entertainment CV covering accounts for AZ Cafe, AHS Billiard, a holding account, and Sulthan Cafe, three DVR CCTV units, two flash drives, four empty boxes labelled ‘Archive of the East Java Customs Regional Office’, and a bundle of tax documents.

Meanwhile, the search at the PT TSL office found it was already closed, with no activity and a ‘for sale’ sign displayed.

Despite the findings, Mulya stressed that all suspicions are still under investigation and no suspects have been named or conclusions drawn. ‘All of these allegations are still part of the investigation process. The National Police upholds the principle of presumption of innocence, so investigators will objectively examine all evidence before drawing conclusions or determining any other criminal acts, including if indications of money laundering with corruption as the predicate offence are later found,’ Mulya asserted.

All seized evidence will be further analysed by investigators for the next stage of the inquiry.

The day before, Kortastipidkor investigators seized a number of items during a search of the Customs and Excise Supervision and Service Office (KPPBC) Type Madya Pabean Juanda on Jalan Bandara Juanda, Sidoarjo. Police also searched several other locations in Sidoarjo and Surabaya.

Mulya explained that the case originated from the practice of importing used mobile phones from abroad using invalid import documents. ‘This case began with the practice of importing used mobile phones from abroad by providing information that did not match the import documents,’ Mulya told reporters after the search at the Sidoarjo Customs Office.

Mulya said that beyond document falsification, investigators also found indications of money flows to state officials in this used mobile phone import practice, allegedly occurring from 2024 to 2026. ‘In addition, investigators have also found alleged payments to certain officials or state administrators. This is suspected to have taken place from 2024 to 2026,’ he said.

The four locations targeted in the previous day’s searches were the KPPBC Type Madya Pabean Juanda office, a cargo warehouse at Juanda operated by PT Jasa Angkasa Semesta (JAS), and the homes of two individuals with the initials MT and AY in Surabaya. Mulya revealed that MT is a private importer, while AY is a customs official. Both are suspected of involvement in the process of bringing in the imported goods but currently remain witnesses.

To date, investigators have examined around 30 people from Customs and 20 from the private sector as witnesses. No suspects have been named yet. Mulya added that the number of potential suspects could be more than one, while the calculation of state losses is ongoing with the assistance of experts. ‘Kortastipidkor is committed to resolving this case transparently and without favouritism,’ he concluded.