What the KPK is Investigating Regarding Cigarette Entrepreneurs in the Import Bribery Case at Customs
The KPK is examining a cigarette entrepreneur as a witness in the alleged bribery case for importing goods at the Directorate General (Ditjen) of Customs and Excise of the Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu). The KPK is investigating the excise management process at Ditjen Customs and Excise.
Three entrepreneurs who were summoned are Liem Eng Hwie (LEH), Rokhmawan (ROK), and Benny Tan (BT). However, only one witness attended, namely Liem Eng Hwie.
“So today there are three cigarette entrepreneurs scheduled for examination, but only one attended, namely Mr LEH, who is a cigarette entrepreneur from Central Java,” said KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo to reporters at the KPK building in South Jakarta on Tuesday (31/3/2026).
Budi said Liem Eng Hwie was questioned by investigators about the mechanisms for cigarette entrepreneurs. He said the examination of Liem Eng Hwie is important in this case investigation.
“Confirmed by investigators regarding the process or mechanism carried out as a cigarette entrepreneur in handling excise at Ditjen Customs and Excise,” he explained.
Budi revealed that investigators want to know the processes carried out in handling excise for cigarette entrepreneurs. The results, said Budi, will be matched with field conditions.
“Of course, the information and statements from the summoned witnesses are to complete the ongoing investigation of the case. Moreover, the KPK also wants to soon hand over this case to the prosecution stage, especially from the side of the briber or the bribe giver. Of course, this is also a strategy due to the limitations of the detention period,” Budi stated.
Budi previously explained that in investigating the bribery case for importing goods at Ditjen Customs and Excise, the KPK will probe two cigarette producers. The two cigarette producers are in East Java and Central Java, suspected of giving bribes.
“Currently, among others from Central Java and also East Java. We will ask for statements from witnesses, the giving of money from which cigarette companies. These companies will be mapped by us who gave to the rogue elements at Customs and Excise,” said KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo to reporters at the Merah Putih building, Jakarta, on Monday (2/3).
Although this case started from findings in the centre, the KPK does not rule out the possibility of developing the case to the regional level. Given that Customs and Excise has representative offices at the provincial level, investigators will examine whether there is a role from regional offices (kanwil) in facilitating bribery practices before reaching the central level.
“There is an open possibility to deepen into the regional offices of Ditjen Customs and Excise. We will check the authority, what the process or excise mechanism starts from the regional level then to the centre or what,” he added.
In its developments, the KPK is also continuing to conduct searches at several locations in this case. The latest, one location searched is suspected to be a ‘safe house’.
In the search, the KPK confirmed that there was money seized amounting to tens of millions of USD from the search of that ‘safe house’. However, the KPK has not detailed the exact location of the searched ‘safe house’.
Regarding this case, KPK Deputy for Enforcement and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu revealed there was an agreement between the Head of Customs and Excise Intelligence Section, Orlando Hamonangan, and the Head of Customs and Excise Intelligence Sub-Directorate Sisprian Subiaksono with the owner of PT Blueray John Field, Head of PT Blueray Import Document Team Andri, and PT Blueray Operational Manager Dedy Kurniawan in October 2025. They are suspected of agreeing to arrange the import route of goods to Indonesia.
The KPK said that the Minister of Finance Regulation regulates two types of routes in import goods supervision services. There is a green route which is the goods release route without physical checks and a red route which is the goods release route with physical checks.
“Subsequently, FLR (Filar Customs and Excise employee) received instructions from ORL (Orlando) to adjust the red route parameters and follow it up by compiling a rule set at 70 percent,” said Asep as quoted, Friday (6/2).
Currently, there are seven suspects in the import goods bribery case at Customs and Excise. Here are their identities:
Rizal (RZL) as Director of Enforcement and Investigation of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (P2 DJBC) from 2024 to January 2026;
Sisprian Subiaksono (SIS) as Head of Sub-Directorate of Enforcement and Investigation Intelligence of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (Kasubdit Intel P2 DJBC);
Orlando (ORL) as Head of Intelligence Section of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (Kasi Intel DJBC);
Jhon Field (JF) as Owner of PT Blueray;
Andri (AND) as Head of PT Blueray Import Document Team;
Dedy Kurniawan (DK) as Operational Manager of PT Blueray;
Budiman Bayu Prasojo (BBP) as Head of Excise Intelligence Section P2 DJBC Customs and Excise.