Purbaya Uses AI to Track Under-Invoicing, Customs Data Gaps Open

Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa. (Teddy Kurniawan VOI)

JAKARTA - Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa revealed that the government has begun using AI and additional trade data to track export under-invoicing practices. This method is used because Customs data so far only reads part of the trade chain.

Purbaya said the practice of under-invoicing has been heard for a long time. However, the pattern and perpetrators are difficult to see clearly.

"It's been a long time under-invoicing. You must have heard all about under-invoicing, but it's not clear who, how to do it," said Purbaya after a limited meeting with President Prabowo Subianto at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, Friday, May 22.

According to Purbaya, one of the loopholes is in the export chain that stops in Singapore. Customs data records exports from Indonesia to Singapore. However, after the goods leave Singapore for the final destination country, the flow is no longer readable.

"Until Singapore, the export is. Well, Singapore is breaking the chain of eyes," he said.

To close the gap, the government uses AI and buys more complete data. The examination is carried out in more detail, including tracing the shipment of ships per ship.

"It's not big data from the UN database, but it's true ship by ship," said Purbaya.

From the examination, the government found indications of export price manipulation, especially in CPO commodities. Purbaya said the goods were sent to Singapore through a trading company, then sold again to the destination country at a much higher price.

"He sent Singapore, using a trading company, his own company. From here to there, to its destination, at a price of twice or more," he said.

Purbaya said the government had checked more than 15 companies and selected the 10 largest companies to be tested first in the CPO sector.

He also said there were interesting findings in the coal sector, which would be discussed further with BPKP.

"There are also interesting findings in coal, later we will also discuss with BPKP," he said.

According to Purbaya, the BPKP and the Attorney General's Office have moved. He will ask for a report on the progress of the examination next week.