KPK Plans to Investigate Cigarette Entrepreneurs from Central Java and East Java in Connection with the Customs Directorate General Case

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has sent a summons letter to a number of cigarette entrepreneurs in Central Java and East Java. They will be asked for information regarding alleged corruption at the Directorate General of Customs and Excise which began with a hand-in-hand operation (OTT) some time ago.

"We have sent a summons letter to cigarette entrepreneurs. If I'm not mistaken, Central Java and East Java," said Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK Asep Guntur Rahayu to reporters at the KPK Red and White Building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, quoted Tuesday, March 31.

Asep said the summons letter was sent last week, right after the Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijriah holiday.

"So just wait. The examination is here (at the KPK office, ed)," he said.

Furthermore, Asep did not specify who the boss of the cigarette company would be called. But, he gave a clue that one of them was MS who had HS-branded cigarettes.

From a number of websites, HS cigarettes are local kretek cigarettes owned by Muhammad Suryo. This brand is under the auspices of Surya Group Holding Company whose production is in Yogyakarta and Magelang.

"There is MS, right. We have also called the person concerned," said the former KPK Director of Investigation.

As previously reported, the KPK suspects that cigarette manufacturers who gave bribes to the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) to circumvent taxes are from the Java Island area. The findings were revealed after Budiman Bayu Prasojo as Head of the P2 Tax Intelligence Section of the DJBC was named a suspect and detained on Friday, February 27.

"Currently, some of them are from Central Java and there are also East Java," said KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo to reporters at the KPK Red and White building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Monday, March 2.

The findings of the anti-corruption commission, these cigarette entrepreneurs are suspected of buying tax tape at a lower tariff in large quantities. In fact, there is a difference in tariffs for the products of manual home industry and using machines.

The KPK initially announced six suspects related to alleged bribes and gratuities related to the import of goods at the Directorate General of Customs and Excise after conducting a hand-in-hand operation (OTT) on February 4. One of them is the Director of Enforcement and Investigation of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (P2 DJBC) for the period 2024-2026, Rizal.

In addition to Rizal, the KPK also named five other suspects. They are Sisprian Subiaksono (SIS) as Head of the Subdirectorate of Intelligence, Enforcement and Investigation of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (Kasubdit Intel P2 DJBC); Orlando Hamonangan (ORL) as Head of the Intelligence Section of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (Kasi Intel DJBC); John Field (JF) as owner of PT Blueray (BR); Andri as Head of the Import Documents Team of PT BR; and Dedy Kurniawan as Operational Manager of PT BR.

The KPK suspects that this case began in October 2025 when Orlando Hamonangan and Sisprian Subiaksono together with John Field, Andri, and Dedy Kurniawan committed a conspiracy. They arranged the planning of the import route of goods that would enter Indonesia.

Furthermore, the KPK announced the Head of the Tax Intelligence Section for Enforcement and Investigation (P2) of the Directorate General of Customs (DJBC) Budiman Bayu Prasojo (BBP) as a new suspect in the case of alleged gratification related to the import of goods.

The announcement was made after the arrest was made at the DJBC headquarters in East Jakarta on Thursday, February 26.

Budiman was arrested for allegedly receiving and managing money from entrepreneurs whose products were subject to taxes and importers since November 2024.

As a result of his actions, Budiman Bayu was then suspected of violating Article 12 B of Law No. 31 of 1999 jo. UU No. 20 of 2001 jo. Article 20 letter c of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code (KUHP).