KPK Claims Customs Officials Used Corruption Proceeds to Purchase Operational Vehicles
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has uncovered that money derived from alleged bribery and gratification related to counterfeit goods imports at the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) under the Ministry of Finance was used to purchase operational vehicles.
“The money collected was also used to purchase operational vehicles. The vehicle registration documents were in their names. So these individuals created operational vehicles,” said Asep Guntur Rahayu, KPK Deputy for Prosecution and Execution, at KPK headquarters in Jakarta on Friday (27/2).
According to Asep, the vehicles were used to store corruption proceeds.
Asep also revealed that operations were managed from these vehicles to avoid KPK personnel.
“There was money stored in these operational vehicles, and it kept changing,” said Asep.
“The movement of money involved changing vehicles, changing people, changing drivers, constantly. Meanwhile, our field personnel are very limited,” he added.
During searches, Asep stated that some corruption funds were discovered inside the operational vehicles.
“They found money in these operational vehicles. So there was money stored in operational vehicles for urgent needs,” he said.
Asep further noted that these vehicles were used for urgent needs, allowing customs officials to avoid accessing the safe house.
“So they didn’t have to go to the safe house first. If they needed something, perhaps to purchase something or give money to someone, they could take it directly from what was in the operational vehicle,” he explained.
In this case, the KPK has designated seven people as suspects.
These include former Director of Investigation and Prosecution at the Directorate General of Customs and Excise for the 2024-January 2026 period, Rizal; Head of the Intelligence Prosecution and Investigation Subdirectorate at DJBC, Sisprian Subiaksono; Head of the Intelligence Section at DJBC, Orlando; Head of the Import Documents Team at PT BR, Andri; Owner of PT Blueray, John Field; and Operations Manager at PT BR, Dedy Kurniawan.
Meanwhile, Head of the Tax Intelligence Section at the Prosecution and Investigation Directorate, Budiman Bayu Prasojo, was arrested and designated as a suspect on Thursday (26/2).
All suspects have been detained at the KPK State Detention House.
For their actions, Rizal, Sisprian, and Orlando are charged with violating Article 12 letters a and b of the Law on Combating Corruption Offences as well as Articles 605 (2) and 606 (2) read together with Articles 20 and 21 of the Criminal Code.
They are also charged with violating Article 12B of the Corruption Law read together with Articles 20 and 21 of the Criminal Code.
Meanwhile, John Field, Andry, and Dedy Kurniawan as bribery providers are charged with violating Articles 605 (1) a and b and Article 606 (1) of the Criminal Code.