Kortastipidkor Raids Two Cafes in Sidoarjo Over Illegal Mobile Phone Import Corruption

The Corruption Eradication Corps (Kortastipidkor) of the Indonesian National Police searched two cafes in Sidoarjo, East Java, on Thursday, expanding an investigation into alleged corruption related to illegal mobile phone imports. The two business premises raided were Cafe Sulthan and AZ Cafe, according to Kortastipidkor Head of Operations, Commissioner Yusuf Afandi. The operation followed a search conducted on Wednesday at the Juanda Customs and Excise Supervision and Service Office (KPPBC) and other locations. From the two cafes, investigators seized several items including establishment and licensing documents for CV AHS Entertainment, four bank account statements, three CCTV digital video recorders, two flash drives, four archive boxes labelled ‘DJBC East Java Regional Office Archives’, and a bundle of tax documents. Commissioner Yusuf stated that the searches were carried out to explore possible links between the businesses and the flow of funds from the illegal mobile phone imports. The investigation is being deepened through the examination of documents, financial transactions, and other evidence found at the scene. In addition to the cafes, investigators also searched the office of PT TSL, which is suspected of involvement in bribery, and the Sidoarjo home of AHT, a manager at PT TSL. The search revealed that the PT TSL office was no longer operational and had a ‘for sale’ sign displayed, while 37 documents related to banking data and asset ownership were found at AHT’s residence. All secured evidence will be further examined and analysed for the next stage of the investigation. This case is a development from an alleged illegal importation of mobile phones and other electronic products from China, which was previously handled by the Anti-Smuggling Law Enforcement Task Force of the Criminal Investigation Department’s Special Economic Crimes Directorate. Four suspects have been named in the case: DCP, the importer; SJ, a distributor of illegal mobile phones; TW, the director of PT TSI; and MT, the director of PT TSL.