KPK Continues to Investigate the Process of Managing Cigarette Taxes Through the Cigarette Boss from East Java, Rokhmawan

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has examined the boss of cigarettes from Central Java, Rokhmawan as a witness some time ago. This examination is to trace the management of taxes related to the case of bribery and gratification of the import of goods at the Directorate General of Customs and Excise.

Rokhmawan should have been examined on Tuesday, March 31, but did not attend or absented himself. He is the owner of PT Rizqy Megatama Sentosa (RMS).

"The material is the same (as other cigarette entrepreneurs, ed) related to the tax management mechanism by cigarette companies at the Directorate General of Customs and Excise," said KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo to reporters, Monday, April 13.

As for the investigation into the alleged cigarette tax bribery, the KPK has examined a number of home cigarette entrepreneurs. One of them is H Khairul Umam or Haji Her who is a tobacco entrepreneur from Madura.

The KPK previously suspected that there were cigarette manufacturers who gave bribes to the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) to circumvent taxes from the Java Island region. 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.

This determination is an expansion of the hand-in-hand operation (OTT) on February 4. At that time, six suspects were announced, one of which was the Director of Enforcement and Investigation of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (P2 DJBC) for the period 2024-2026, Rizal.

Then, it was also determined as a suspect, namely Sisprian Subiaksono (SIS) as Head of the Sub Directorate 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.

"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.

These cigarette entrepreneurs are suspected of buying tax tape at a lower rate in large quantities. In fact, there is a difference in tariffs for the results of manual home industry products and using machines.