KPK Urged to Immediately Question Customs Chief Over Blueray Bribery Case
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has been urged to investigate Director General of Customs and Excise Djaka Budhi Utama in connection with alleged bribery involving Blueray Cargo.
Anti-money laundering expert Yenti Garnasih noted that Djaka’s name appearing in court proceedings raises concerns if he has not yet been summoned or questioned by the KPK. “If someone is named in the indictment, we must ask the KPK whether that person has been summoned or not,” she told reporters on Sunday (31 May).
She stressed that allegations of bribery by the Public Prosecutor’s Office (JPU) would not have been made spontaneously. This would differ if the information came from a witness in court.
She expressed surprise that the KPK has not yet questioned Djaka in the case, especially as the commission already possesses evidence such as records of bribery and envelopes. “The name did not appear out of nowhere but based on indictment documents. Yet why is it being ignored? Has he even been summoned as a witness?” she said.
Therefore, Yenti deemed it urgent for the KPK to question Djaka, who should have been examined from the outset given his name was in the indictment.
On another front, she called on Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa to fulfil his oversight role, as the ministry has its own legal department. She argued that if the minister wished to clean house, Djaka should be suspended or placed on non-active duty.
She stated it was inappropriate for a leader implicated in such a manner to continue performing duties and powers, creating a poor precedent for the institution. “Both the Director General and the Finance Minister must take steps to place the individual on non-active status. The KPK must act; if named in the indictment, why not even question him? What has been done so far?” she concluded.
Previously, the KPK had designated six suspects in a bribery and gratuity case involving importation at the Customs Directorate General, following a sting operation. The suspects included former Director of Investigation and Enforcement for the Customs Directorate General (2024-January 2026) Rizal; Head of Intelligence, Investigation, and Enforcement Sub-Directorate (Kasubdit Intel P2 DJBC) Sisprian Subiaksono; Head of Intelligence Section at the Customs Directorate General (Kasi Intel DJBC) Orlando; Head of Import Documentation Team at PT Blueray, Andri; Customs Directorate General employee Budiman Bayu Prasojo; PT Blueray owner John Field; and PT Blueray Operations Manager Dedy Kurniawan.
During a trial at the Corruption Court (Tipikor) in Central Jakarta District Court on Wednesday (20 May), involving defendant PT Blueray owner John Field and others, it was revealed that an envelope containing S$213,600 with the code “Sales 2-1 DIR” was presented. The KPK prosecutor stated the envelope referred to Customs Director General Djaka Budhi Utama.