KPK Responds to Prabowo's Statement That the Finance Minister Could Replace the Head of the Directorate General of Customs

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has responded to President Prabowo Subianto’s statement that the Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa could replace the head of the Directorate General of Customs (DJBC) of the Ministry of Finance if he is unable to improve. Moreover, the KPK is currently handling a case of alleged corruption within the Directorate General of Customs. The name of the Director General of Customs Djaka Budi Utama was mentioned in the trial of the case and is accused of receiving a bribe of 213,600 Singapore dollars. ‘Yes, I think that’s a different domain,’ said KPK Chairman Setyo Budiyanto in Serang, Banten, on Thursday (21/5/2026). According to Setyo, the president’s statement was specifically directed at Purbaya or not regarding the ongoing KPK investigation into the Customs case. Nevertheless, he said the KPK believes President Prabowo is committed to fighting corruption in the country. ‘That was aimed at the Minister of Finance,’ he said. Earlier, on 4 February 2026 the KPK conducted a tangkap tangan (OTT) operation in the environment of the Directorate General of Customs of the Ministry of Finance. In that operation, one of those detained was Rizal, Head of the Western Sumatra Regional Office of Customs. The following day, the KPK named six of the 17 people detained as suspects in a case of alleged bribery and gratification linked to the import of counterfeit goods within the Customs environment. They are Rizal (RZL) as Director of Enforcement and Investigation of Customs for the period 2024-January 2026; Head of Sub-Directorate of Intelligence, Enforcement and Investigation of Customs Sisprian Subiaksono (SIS); and Head of the Intelligence Section of Customs Orlando Hamonangan (ORL). Additionally, the KPK named the owner of Blueray Cargo John Field (JF), Head of the Blueray Cargo Import Documentation Team Andri (AND), and Blueray Cargo Operational Manager Dedy Kurniawan (DK) as suspects. On 26 February 2026, the KPK again named a new suspect, Budiman Bayu Prasojo (BBP), Head of the Intelligence Section of Customs, Directorate of Enforcement and Investigation, Customs.