KPK reminded to be careful about the label 'Lartas' in the case of bribery in import

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is asked to be careful when investigating the alleged bribery of goods imports at the Directorate General of Customs and Excise involving PT Blueray Cargo. One of them is the use of prohibited and/or restricted goods labels (lartas).

This request was made by R. Gautama Wiranegara as a specialist in counter-intelligence analysis after the KPK found and seized a container at the Tanjung Emas Port, Semarang, Central Java. According to him, the technical term must be strengthened with legal proof.

"In the world of intelligence and law, unproven claims are time bombs," Gautama told reporters in Jakarta, Monday, May 18.

The public should not immediately be swayed by his opinion that all the goods found by the KPK fall into the category of illegal. Because, the contents of the container are in the form of motorcycle spare parts such as shock absorbers, disc brakes, brake pump repair kits, exhaust pipes, to sprocket sets.

The goods, continued Gautama, are actually also included in the HS Code 8714 or spare parts for two-wheeled vehicles which are generally legally traded. Thus, the status of lartas must be proven through clear technical and regulatory classifications.

"The problem is not with the word spare part, but with the legal status and factual condition of the goods. It must be proven, not just claimed," he said.

The KPK was also asked to explain in detail the legal basis for the alleged violations, including the HS Code of goods and regulations. According to Gautama, a good can be called lartas if there are technical rules that are violated such as the obligation of the Indonesian National Standard (SNI), certain import permits, the status of used or reconditioned goods, and other restrictions.

"Without technical explanation, the public is only given the impression that the goods are illegal. In fact, lartas does not necessarily mean prohibited goods, it can also be legal goods that require certain requirements," he said.

Investigators are asked to immediately explain the ownership of the seized container. Gautama said it was not enough if the KPK said the goods belonged to the affiliated party.

Moreover, in the terms of the world of logistics and customs, affiliation has many meanings. "Without evidence of active role, knowledge, intentionality, and causal relationship, linking someone's name has the potential to create a disproportionate stigma," he said.

"Law enforcement should not only be strong in reporting. It must be strong in classification, documents, regulations, and proof," he continued.

The KPK seized a container suspected to belong to an importer affiliated with PT Blueray Cargo at the Tanjung Emas Port, Semarang on Tuesday, May 12. The seizure was carried out after investigators conducted a search related to the alleged bribery of the import of goods in the Customs and Excise Directorate General.

"Investigators are moving to search and seize the container suspected of belonging to the importer affiliated with Blueray. The container is still at Tanjung Emas Port, where the container owner has not submitted an Import Notification of Goods to the BC for more than 30 days," said KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo to reporters through a written statement, Wednesday, May 13.

Budi said the container was opened by the moving investigators. "And it contains items that are included in the criteria for prohibited or restricted imports or imports, namely vehicle spare parts," he said.

As previously reported, the KPK 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, he is 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).