Legal Representative's Clarification Regarding Tax Official Who Fled to Avoid Journalists After KPK Examination

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - An employee of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) of the Ministry of Finance, Ahmad Dedi, feels aggrieved by reports in several mass media outlets that stated he ran away when about to be interviewed after an examination. Ahmad Dedi ran out of the KPK’s Merah Putih Building in Kuningan, South Jakarta, after undergoing examination as a witness in the bribery case for importing goods on Friday, 8 May 2026 afternoon. However, he denies the assumption that he was running from the media after the Corruption Eradication Commission examination. The denial was directly conveyed by Ahmad Dedi’s legal representative, T.S. Hamonangan Daulay. He stated that Ahmad Dedi’s status in the case is as a witness to assist the KPK so that the investigation of this case proceeds smoothly. “Once again, he is a witness and not a suspect,” he said. Regarding his client running when approached by journalists, Hamonangan said that everyone has the choice to agree or not to be interviewed by the media, depending on the considerations of the potential source. According to him, Ahmad Dedi has strong considerations, namely respecting the ongoing legal process. “For Ahmad Dedi, commenting to the media at that time would actually be counterproductive to the case investigation at the KPK. Let us respect the ongoing legal process,” he stated. Hamonangan hopes that the media will uphold the principle of presumption of innocence as part of journalistic ethics, and not fall for negative framing from certain parties. “I hope to my media friends, do not easily fall for framing from certain parties. This case must be monitored together, so that its investigation proceeds smoothly and thoroughly,” he said.