Prosecutor Reveals Chat on Eve of Sting Operation, Customs Official Already Suspected KPK Surveillance

Public Prosecutor (JPU) revealed a conversation that took place the day before a sting operation (OTT) in a suspected bribery case related to goods importation within the Directorate General of Customs and Excise at the Ministry of Finance. The conversation came to light during a trial at the Corruption Court (PN Tipikor) in Central Jakarta on Wednesday (10/6). Former Intelligence Sub-Directorate Head of the Directorate of Enforcement and Investigation, Sisprian Subiaksono, was presented as a witness. He is also a suspect in the case. Appearing as defendants in the trial were Blueray Cargo Group Chairman John Field, Blueray Cargo Group Operational Manager of Port Custom Clearance Dedy Kurniawan Sukolo, and Blueray Cargo Group Head of Import Documentation Team Andri.

The prosecutor initially read out a message sent by Sisprian to the Head of Customs Intelligence Section I of the Directorate of Enforcement and Investigation, Orlando Hamonangan, on 3 February 2026, a day before the OTT was conducted. ‘So this is on the 3rd, H-1 before the OTT was carried out. Then… “be careful mate, they say we are being watched”. This is the witness’s communication at 10:47:04. What does the witness understand by “we are being watched”? This is intelligence language. Please explain,’ asked the prosecutor.

Sisprian said he sent the message to Orlando because he heard a lot of information that many were monitoring their movements. Sisprian admitted he was worried about the existence of unofficial operational funds within his directorate. ‘That is why I told Orlando to be careful because I knew there were operational funds in our department. I was afraid that would become the problem,’ said Sisprian. The prosecutor then probed who Sisprian meant was monitoring their movements. ‘Very well. So, who did the witness understand was doing the watching? The KPK or who?’ asked the prosecutor. ‘One of them was the KPK,’ answered Sisprian.

The prosecutor again requested an explanation of the source of that information. The prosecutor noted that the OTT process is highly confidential. ‘Now, the witness is already applying intelligence tradecraft. Who is the witness? This has already happened, pardon me, it has already happened. Then why we are opening this up is because, as the public also knows, OTT activities are indeed extremely secret and so on. We also know, with permission, after an OTT appears in the media… could you please convey who leaked this information?’ asked the prosecutor. Sisprian said the information was obtained from people around him and from his own analysis. According to him, every time his staff took enforcement action on a case, an inspection or search by law enforcement officials would follow shortly after. ‘In early January 2025 we were also searched by the KPK after we took action in Jambi. Then there was also a case of us taking action on textiles in Batam and after that the Attorney General’s Office raided us. This time we had just finished taking action from Riau, we were afraid we would also be entered by the adjacent parties,’ said Sisprian.

The prosecutor then questioned why Sisprian was afraid if no violations had been committed. ‘If indeed there is nothing wrong, why be afraid, yes? This is a wise saying if I may say so. Why did fear arise? If indeed there is nothing there, and the activities are in accordance with regulations, why be afraid?’ said the prosecutor. Sisprian said the concern was related to the existence of operational funds which he had already acknowledged in court. ‘Excuse me, Your Honour. I previously stated that I knew about the operational funds,’ he said.

In this case, John Field as Chairman of Blueray Cargo Group is charged with bribing several officials at the Directorate General of Customs and Excise with money amounting to Rp61 billion and the provision of entertainment facilities and luxury goods worth Rp1.8 billion. The criminal act of bribery was committed by John Field together with defendant II Dedy Kurniawan Sukolo and defendant III Andri. The alleged bribe recipients consist of the Director of Enforcement and Investigation, Rizal; the Sub-Directorate Head of Intelligence, Sisprian Subiaksono; and the Head of Customs Intelligence Section I, Orlando Hamonangan. The cluster of DGCE officials will be prosecuted in a separate case file. The prosecutor stated the bribe was given so that officials at the DGCE would facilitate the quicker release of imported goods belonging to Blueray Cargo Group from the customs supervision process.