Prosecutors Interrogate Customs Officials Over Alleged Leak of KPK Sting Operation

Prosecutors from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) have interrogated Orlando Hamonangan, a defendant in a bribery case involving the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, regarding the alleged leak of information concerning a sting operation (OTT). The prosecution suspects a leak after discovering WhatsApp messages containing warnings to be careful of being monitored by the KPK.

Orlando, who is a defendant in the case, appeared as a witness for the defendants Rizal, the Director of Enforcement and Investigation at Customs, and Sisprian Subiaksono, the Head of the Intelligence Sub-directorate at the Directorate of Enforcement and Investigation. The trial was held at the Central Jakarta Corruption Court on Monday (14/09/2026).

“We are focusing on the information. With permission, Members of the Court, our suspicion is that the sting operation was leaked. This witness could have received information from Mr Sisprian saying, ‘Be careful, mate, we are being monitored by the KPK.’ How is this possible? We only became aware of this case after it appeared in the media. Who leaked the KPK’s sting operation to Mr Sis and Mr Rizal? What is your response, Witness? We will present the WhatsApp chats later. Did any incident occur previously?” asked KPK prosecutor M Takdir Suhan.

“I was only informed, Sir. ‘Be careful, we are being monitored.’ But I was not clear on who was monitoring us, Sir—the KPK or another agency,” replied Orlando, also known as Ocoy.

The prosecutor interrogated Orlando on whether there had been any previous inspections by the KPK at the Directorate of Enforcement and Investigation (P2) of Customs. Orlando confirmed this, though he noted he had not yet joined that specific directorate at the time.

“Since the witness knows that communication with other agencies is good, that is the point. Was there an experience where the KPK was monitoring or searching the P2 unit, as far as the witness remembers?” asked the prosecutor.

“There was, Sir, but I had not joined yet,” replied Orlando.

The prosecutor presented a message sent by Sisprian to Orlando, which read: ‘Be careful, mate, we are being watched.’ The KPK prosecutor requested Orlando to explain the meaning of this WhatsApp message.

“This one here: ‘Be careful, mate,’ saying ‘we are being watched.’ Who was watching? And why must one be careful? Could you please explain, Witness? Subsequently, the witness replied, ‘Oh my,’ ‘Understood, Commander,’ ‘Commander, permission.’ Could you clarify the meaning of this? Why ‘watched’? Why ‘Oh my’?” asked the prosecutor.

“Yes, Sir, because regarding being monitored by the KPK or other agencies, as far as I remember, there had been a complaint since October,” replied Orlando.

Orlando admitted to hearing information that the KPK had been monitoring the Customs P2 unit since October 2025. He stated there was information that ‘someone was coming.’

“It was from various agencies, Sir. That is how it was,” Orlando added.

“Very well. Furthermore, this communication was on the 3rd of February, one day before the sting operation on the 4th,” noted the prosecutor.

“At the office. Even at the office, there were rumours that someone was coming, like that,” Orlando added.

Orlando admitted he was at the office when the KPK conducted the sting operation on 3 February 2026. He stated that the warning received the day before the operation pertained to the receipt of money involved in this case.

“Was there ever an instruction from Mr Sis, ‘Stop, no more’? Was there an instruction saying, ‘Don’t do it anymore, that’s enough, we are being monitored’? Did Mr Sis convey such an instruction to you?” asked the prosecutor.

“Never, Sir,” replied Orlando.

“Never. So, every time the witness received [money], there was no refusal and no instruction to stop?” asked the prosecutor.

“There was none,” replied Orlando.

Previously, three Customs officials from the Ministry of Finance were charged with receiving bribes and gratifications totalling Rp 78.8 billion. Prosecutors stated that the bribes and gratifications were received in both Rupiah and foreign currencies.

The indictment trial was held at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Friday (03/07/2026). The three Customs officials are Rizal, the Director of Enforcement and Investigation; Sisprian Subiaksono, the Head of the Intelligence Sub-directorate of the Directorate of Enforcement and Investigation; and Orlando Hamonangan, the Head of Customs Intelligence Section I of the Directorate of Enforcement and Investigation.