Lawyer Reveals Seized Money from de'Clan Cafe Intended for Port Construction

Don Ritto’s lawyer, Handika Hanggowongso, has spoken out after his client was named a suspect in three corruption cases that also implicate former Junior Attorney General for Special Crimes (Jampidsus) Febrie Adriansyah. Don Ritto’s side acknowledged that the money seized by police at the de’Clan cafe and a Cipete money changer was intended for the construction of a port area. “As far as has been conveyed and what we know from the evidence, it can be accounted for; it was for a cooperation to build a port area with a businessman,” Handika said at Polda Metro Jaya on Tuesday (14/7/2026). He declined to specify the identity of the businessman. Handika claimed that the funds are not related to the three cases currently under investigation. “If asked whether the money is connected to the case, we answer there is no connection. Legally, the evidence will definitely be rejected. The question of where the money came from and whose money it is, it was a cooperation with a businessman to build a dock or port in the East Kalimantan area. As for who the businessman is, we do not dare to mention it today,” he explained. During a search on Wednesday (8/7), police seized evidence including SGD 3,130,000 in SGD 100 notes, USD 889,965, and Rp 259,159,000. The total cash seized was converted to approximately Rp 60 billion. An additional search at a Cipete money changer yielded foreign currency worth around Rp 7.2 billion. In this case, former Jampidsus Febrie Adriansyah and Don Ritto were named suspects by the Corruption Eradication Corps (Kortas Tipikor). The naming of suspects came shortly after Febrie resigned from his post. Febrie is a suspect in three alleged corruption cases involving coal, ASABRI, and Krakatau Steel (KS). The case has now been transferred to the Attorney General’s Office and is being supervised by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and monitored by the House of Representatives’ Commission III through the formation of a working committee. House of Representatives Commission III has confirmed it is paying close attention to the legal process. Commission III Chairman Habiburokhman stressed that the high-profile cases dragging in law enforcement officials are related to individuals, not institutions. “There are several things to announce. First, Commission III is taking the initiative to ensure that the cases widely reported can proceed within legal corridors and be thoroughly investigated,” Habiburokhman said during a press conference at the Attorney General’s Office in South Jakarta on Saturday (11/7). He asserted that his party will ensure there is no overreach of legal authority between institutions during the investigation. “Second, we also want to ensure there are no excesses or friction between institutions regarding the handling of this case. After all, this is a case related to individuals, not institutions,” he said.