KPK Endus There are Parties Who Claim They Can Condition the Customs Case 

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has information that there are parties who claim to be able to condition the investigation of alleged bribery and gratification of the import of goods at the Directorate General of Customs and Excise.

KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo said the information was obtained during the examination of Kamal Mustofa as Director of PT Gading Gadjah Mada on Monday, April 27. It is known that the boss of the home cigarette company from Kudus, East Java, was asked for information as.

"In the investigation of the alleged corruption case related to customs and excise, investigators also received information that there were parties who claimed to be able to arrange or handle the process of handling this case. This information is spread in Central Java," Budi told reporters through a written statement, Tuesday, April 28.

Budi ensured that the information was not true. No one should be tempted to agree to handle the case because it could be a modus operandi for fraud.

"The KPK reminds that all legal enforcement processes are carried out professionally, transparently, and free from the intervention of any party," he said.

"We warn the public not to trust individuals who offer assistance in handling cases in exchange for certain benefits, either directly or through intermediaries," he continued.

Furthermore, Budi also said that the examination of the cigarette company's boss delved into other things. One of them is related to tax management carried out by the home cigarette company.

"Investigators are investigating witnesses related to the process and mechanism of tax management by cigarette entrepreneurs," he said.

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 Central Java and East Java. The findings were obtained after Budiman Bayu Prasojo as Head of the Tax Intelligence Section of P2 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.

The 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.