Purbaya to Remove Director General of Customs if Found to Have Accepted Bribes
Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa stated he would dismiss Djaka Budhi Utama from his post as Director General of Customs if found to have accepted bribes in the Blueray Cargo case belonging to the defendant John Field. For now, Purbaya says he will not interfere in the trial that implicates his subordinate. However, should the trial prove the allegations, he will take decisive action against the Director General of Customs in line with President Prabowo Subianto’s directives.
“If the trial, I will not interfere. I will just see what the outcome is. If proven (guilty), then yes (he should be dismissed),” Purbaya said when contacted by reporters at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs in Jakarta on Thursday, 21 May 2026, as quoted by Antara.
President Prabowo previously asked Minister of Finance Purbaya to replace the leadership of the Directorate General of Customs if it is deemed unable to perform quickly.
In the DPR plenary session at the Nusantara Building, Parliament Complex, Jakarta, on Wednesday, 20 May 2026, Prabowo stated that the government must eradicate corruption, abuse of power, and practices that hinder the economy.
“Customs must be reformed. Minister of Finance, if the leadership of Customs is not capable, they should be replaced promptly,” Prabowo told more than 400 DPR members and other state officials.
He argued that the government must work swiftly and not be slow in delivering public services and in bureaucratic reform.
The President also reminded all ministries and agencies to strengthen governance that is professional and corruption-free. “We must be brave to reform all our institutions. We must continue to build a strong and corruption-free government,” Prabowo said.
Prabowo cited that bribery practices remain a complaint among entrepreneurs and are seen to hinder the development of industry in Indonesia. “Entrepreneurs complain; they experience petty bribes that are too many,” he said.
Therefore, he urged ministers, heads of agencies, and leaders of institutions to immediately clean up the bureaucracy in their respective agencies and to crack down on violations strongly.