KPK's Examination of 20 Forwarders in the Customs Case is Positive Although Slow

JAKARTA - The steps taken by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to examine dozens of forwarders other than PT Blueray Cargo in the case of bribery of the import of goods in the Directorate General of Customs and Excise were appreciated. The principle of equality before the law was considered to have been applied although it seemed slow.

"The principle of the rule of law requires that all parties suspected of having a similar pattern of relationship be treated proportionately. So, if the KPK is now investigating 20 forwarders, it is a reinforcement that the law must not stop at one company," said Gautama Wiranegara, a specialist in counter-intelligence, criminal law, corruption and customs, to reporters, Tuesday, June 2.

Even so, Gautama questioned why this information was only opened to the public and the slow development of the case. According to him, information regarding the existence of other forwarders has actually been known since February 2026.

"Why wait months to start moving more aggressively?" he said.

Gautama reminded, in the perspective of counterintelligence, a long time lag risks changing digital footprints, opening up room for coordination between parties and affecting the reconstruction of facts.

He also reminded that the expansion of the investigation should not obscure the main focus of the case, namely the alleged arrangement of the examination path or rule set targeting, bribery related to imports and the relationship between the intelligence operator of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise with certain parties.

"The purpose of the investigation is not to multiply names, but to find out who controls the system, who receives the greatest benefits, and how the state's losses occur," he said.

Gautama added that the development of cases should not turn into a fishing expedition or a case search without clear legal construction. The public is said not to need a bigger narrative but concrete proof.

"The public will not be angry if the KPK says honestly: 'The evidence for the time being is only enough for Blue Ray'. What makes the public angry is when names are mentioned, checked, searched, and then hung without certainty," he said.

The KPK stated that it had examined dozens of forwarders in the case of bribes for the import of goods in the Customs and Excise Directorate General. Their superiors were said to have been questioned at the KPK's Red and White building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta.

"So we are investigating, so each of them has more than 20, yes, the forwarder is throughout Indonesia, in every port, there are seaports, airports and such," said Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK Asep Guntur Rahayu to reporters quoted Tuesday, June 2.

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 arrest was then carried out 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).