Haji Her Admits to Staying at Grand Hyatt to Investigators When Investigated by the KPK

Tobacco entrepreneur from Madura, H Khairul Umam or Haji Her/PHOTO: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

JAKARTA - Madura tobacco entrepreneur H Khairul Umam or Haji Her admitted that he stayed at the Grand Hyatt Jakarta Hotel when he was questioned by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigators today.

He initially explained that he had received a number of questions from investigators regarding the alleged corruption in the import of goods at the Directorate General of Customs and Excise. Haji Her underwent an examination at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta from 12.58 WIB to 16.35 WIB.

"Yes, it was confirmed, asked about whether or not they knew the suspects, yes, I answered that I didn't know," Haji Her told reporters at the location.

"Keep asking, where are you staying, staying at the Grand Hyatt," he continued.

The investigator, said Haji Her, had mentioned the price of the hotel. "It's expensive," he said, imitating.

"Yes. I have a lot of money," he said.

Haji Her further said he did not know anything about the cigarette tax issue being handled by the KPK. However, all the questions from investigators have been answered.

"Yes, I answered everything as it is. The Madurese is what it is, there is no Madurese who is twisted," he said.

As previously reported, the Chairman of the KPK Setyo Budiyanto confirmed that his party was right to call H Khairul Umam or Haji Her, who is a tobacco entrepreneur from Madura, last week. The summons is related to allegations of bribes and gratification for the import of goods at the Directorate General of Customs and Excise.

This was conveyed by Setyo to clarify that Haji Her had never been summoned by his agency. He said that a summons letter had been sent but the tobacco entrepreneur did not attend at the scheduled time.

"Yes, it is true that there has been a call, but if the call does not come or the person concerned is not present," Setyo told reporters at the KPK's Red and White building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, quoted on Wednesday, April 8.

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 the Java Island region. The findings were revealed after Budiman Bayu Prasojo as Head of the P2 Tax Intelligence Section of the 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.

"Currently, some of them are from Central Java and there are also East Java," said KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo to reporters at the KPK Red and White building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Monday, March 2.

These 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.