KPK Investigators Are Said to Target the Circle of Former Customs Officials Ahmad Dedi After Checking Iskandar Sitorus

JAKARTA - The Founding Secretary of Indonesian Audit Watch (IAW) Iskandar HP Sitorus was again examined as a witness to the development of the case of bribery in the import of goods in the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) today. He admitted that he was questioned about the transaction documents that had been handed over to investigators some time ago.

Iskandar Sitorus was examined in his capacity as non-litigation power of Blueray Cargo. He was questioned at the KPK's Red and White building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta.

"Earlier, the questions of the customs case investigators were very sharp," Iskandar told reporters, Thursday, August 6.

Iskandar explained that several things were investigated by investigators, including his position as non-litigation power of Blueray Cargo to the evidence of transfer through a Bank BCA account to a person with the initials A or Alexander who was referred to as the aide of the former Customs official Ahmad Dedi alias Dedi Congor.

He also admitted that he had received information that Alexander had previously been summoned for questioning. However, the examination was said to be delayed.

"I was also surprised when I got the information that A had been called once. However, on the day of the examination at Pomdam, suddenly there was a request for a delay from the so-called BAIS person," he said.

In addition, Iskandar said investigators also touched on the history of handling the case of Ahmad Dedi.

"Then there is also information that between 2014 to 2016 AD was investigated by the KPK, but at the same time it was said to be a suspect at the Criminal Investigation Unit. Now it turns out that the status of the suspect case at the Criminal Investigation Unit is being processed again. In my opinion, this is a unique condition," he said.

According to Iskandar, the direction of the investigators' questions indicates an effort to expand the tracing of the flow of funds in the case.

He even suspected that investigators would call Vina Purnamasari, the wife of the owner of Blue Ray Cargo, John Field, who is said to have bank transaction data that has been handed over to the KPK.

"From these things, I see that the investigators seem to be calling Vina Purnamasari who gave me the data transfer of BCA. I noticed that the impact faced by the investigators was quite hard. I don't know if they will continue to be strong and consistent in investigating this case," he said.

Meanwhile, the KPK has not detailed the material that investigators from Iskandar Sitorus have investigated. KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo only explained that the examination was carried out to develop allegations of bribery in the Customs and Excise Directorate General.

"KPK has scheduled the examination of witnesses in the development of the investigation of the alleged corruption case related to customs and excise at the DJBC," said Budi through his statement.

In addition to Iskandar, there are other witnesses who have also been summoned. He is Umar Khayam as an ASN in the Directorate General of Customs and Excise.

The KPK is known to have issued two new investigation orders (sprindik) from the development of the import corruption case at the Directorate General of Customs. One policy has listed the names of the suspects.

Meanwhile, there are no other new suspects or general suspects. "One cluster that Customs has determined the suspect. There is one, because it is still related to the construction of the case of the Customs official, so we immediately set it. Then the second cluster is still related to what interests, Customs officials, but this incident is different," said Acting (Plt) Director of Investigation KPK Achmad Taufik Husein to reporters, Tuesday, July 21.

"Well, that's what we are still one sprindik for us to determine the general sprindik. This means that we will determine the suspects after the sufficiency of the two pieces of evidence in the investigation process. So there are two clusters that then produce two sprindik from being caught in the hands of the Customs event," he continued.

As previously reported, the KPK stated that it did not appeal the decision of the panel of judges of the Corruption Court (Tipikor) at the Central Jakarta District Court (PN) against the leadership of Blueray Cargo (Group).

Thus, the boss of Blueray Cargo (Group), John Field will serve a sentence of 2 years in prison and a fine of IDR 300 million, subject to 100 days in prison.

Meanwhile, Dedy Kurniawan Sukolo as the Manager of Operational Custom Clearance at the Port at Blueray Cargo (Group) and Andri as the Head of the Import Documents Team at Blueray Cargo (Group) will serve a prison sentence of 1.5 years and will be required to pay a fine of Rp. 200 million each, in lieu of a substitute prison sentence of 80 days.

Meanwhile, for the bribe recipients, namely the Director of Enforcement and Investigation of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, Rizal; the Deputy Director of Intelligence of the Directorate of Enforcement and Investigation, Sisprian Subiaksono; Head of the Intelligence Section of Customs I Directorate of Enforcement and Investigation, Orlando Hamonangan; and the Officer of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, Budiman Bayu Prasodjo are still undergoing trial. The process is carried out at the Jakarta Corruption Court.