KPK Questions Businessman Heri Black: What is Being Investigated?
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) interrogated import goods businessman Heri Setiyono, alias Heri Black, on Monday, 18 May 2026. The interrogation is related to findings from a search conducted at Heri Black’s residence in Semarang, Central Java, on 11 May 2026.
“In today’s examination, investigators are delving into findings from the search activities in Semarang, including records of payments made to the Directorate General of Customs and Excise of the Ministry of Finance,” stated KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo to reporters.
Furthermore, he noted that Heri Black is being questioned by the KPK as a witness in an alleged corruption case within the Customs and Excise Directorate General, to confirm findings regarding containers discovered during a search at Tanjung Emas Port, Semarang, on 12 May 2026.
Meanwhile, Heri Black stated that he attended the KPK summons as a law-abiding citizen. “I am being a law-abiding citizen. I am merely attending,” he said after his examination.
Previously, on 4 February 2026, the KPK conducted a sting operation (OTT) within the environment of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise of the Ministry of Hay Finance. During that operation, one of the individuals arrested was the Head of the West Sumatra Regional Office of Customs, Rizal.
A day after the sting operation, the KPK named six of the 17 individuals arrested as suspects in a case of alleged bribery and gratification related to the importation of counterfeit goods within Customs and Excise. The suspects include Rizal (RZL), the Director of Enforcement and Investigation at Customs and Excise for the 2024–January 2026 period; the Head of the Sub-directorate of Intelligence, Enforcement, and Investigation, Sisprian Subiaksono (SIS); and the Head of Intelligence Section, Orlando Hamonangan (ORL).
Additionally, the KPK named the owner of Blueray Cargo, John Field (JF), the Import Documentation Team Leader of Blueray Cargo, Andri (AND), and the Operational Manager of Blueray Cargo, Dedy Kurniawan (DK), as suspects.
On 26 February 2026, the KPK named a new suspect, the Head of the Excise Intelligence Section of the Customs and Excise Directorate of Enforcement and Investigation, Budiman Bayu Prasojo (BBP). Subsequently, on 27 February 2026, the KPK revealed it was deepening its investigation into alleged corruption in excise management after seizing Rp5.19 billion in cash contained in five suitcases from a house in Ciputat, which is suspected to be linked to the case.