Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has revealed details of an alleged large-scale bribery network inside the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, involving import company PT Blueray Cargo and several customs officials accused of manipulating import inspection systems in exchange for billions of rupiah in illicit payments.
The case emerged during a corruption trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court, where prosecutors disclosed allegations that Director General of Customs and Excise Djaka Budhi Utama was linked to a bribe payment worth SGD213,600, equivalent to approximately Rp2.94 billion.
The money allegedly came from Blueray Cargo owner John Field, who is currently facing charges in connection with corruption related to import activities within Indonesia’s customs authority.
The allegations surfaced when KPK prosecutors questioned Orlando Hamonangan Sianipar, Head of Customs Intelligence Section I at the Directorate of Enforcement and Investigation, during court proceedings on Wednesday.
The hearing provided new details about what investigators described as a coordinated operation involving customs officials and private import companies seeking preferential treatment for imported goods entering Indonesia.
According to prosecutors, the KPK previously conducted coordinated raids in Jakarta and Lampung, arresting 17 individuals and seizing evidence valued at approximately Rp40.5 billion.
The confiscated assets included cash in multiple currencies, luxury goods and precious metals allegedly linked to the bribery scheme.
Investigators seized Rp1.89 billion in Indonesian currency, US$182,900 in cash, SGD1.48 million, and JPY550,000. Authorities also confiscated 5.3 kilograms of gold worth more than Rp15 billion and a luxury watch valued at Rp138 million.
The evidence was reportedly collected from several locations, including residences connected to customs officials and offices linked to PT Blueray Cargo.
Following the operation, the KPK named five suspects in the case. Three of them were customs officials: Sisprian Subiaksono, head of intelligence at the Directorate of Enforcement and Investigation; Rizal, former Director of Enforcement and Investigation; and Orlando Hamonangan Sianipar.
The remaining suspects came from PT Blueray Cargo, including import documentation team leader Andri and operations manager Dedy Kurniawan.
KPK investigators said Blueray Cargo owner John Field initially escaped during the anti-corruption agency’s operation but later surrendered voluntarily.
The alleged corruption scheme dates back to October 2025, when prosecutors said customs officials and representatives from PT Blueray Cargo began coordinating efforts to manipulate import procedures.
At the center of the case was Indonesia’s customs inspection classification system, which determines whether imported goods are subject to physical inspection before being released into the domestic market.
Under Indonesian customs regulations, imported goods are categorized into two primary channels. The green lane allows goods to pass without physical inspection, while the red lane requires stricter examination and verification.
Prosecutors alleged that customs officials intentionally altered the risk assessment parameters used in the system to ensure shipments linked to PT Blueray Cargo avoided physical inspection.
According to court testimony, Orlando instructed a customs employee identified as Filar to modify the red-lane inspection parameters and create a new “rule set” at a 70% threshold.
That data was then allegedly transmitted to the Directorate of Customs and Excise Information Technology Division to be integrated into customs scanning and cargo inspection systems.
As a result of the manipulation, prosecutors alleged that Blueray Cargo shipments bypassed physical inspections, allowing counterfeit, imitation and potentially illegal products to enter Indonesia undetected.
Investigators said the arrangement enabled the company to reduce scrutiny while accelerating the customs clearance process for imported goods.
Following the alleged manipulation of inspection systems, prosecutors said a series of meetings and cash handovers took place between PT Blueray Cargo representatives and customs officials between December 2025 and February 2026.
The payments were allegedly distributed regularly as monthly allocations to customs officials involved in facilitating the scheme.
One of the most significant revelations during the trial involved a brown envelope marked with the code “1-DIR,” which prosecutors alleged referred to Director General Djaka Budhi Utama.
KPK prosecutor Takdir Suhan told the court that the envelope contained SGD213,600 and was allegedly intended for Djaka.
“We confirm that number one refers to the Director General of Customs and Excise. The value was SGD213,600. We are the ones confirming this because we possess the evidence,” the prosecutor said during the hearing.
However, Orlando denied knowing the identity of the final recipient associated with the “1-DIR” code.
He admitted understanding other coded envelopes allegedly distributed during the bribery scheme but claimed he did not directly handle the payment linked to Djaka.
According to Orlando, the envelope labeled “2-BR” allegedly referred to Rizal, while “3-SS” referred to Sisprian Subiaksono.
Orlando also acknowledged receiving envelopes marked “4-OC,” which prosecutors identified as his own alias, “Ocoy.”
Additional coded envelopes allegedly corresponded to other customs officials, including personnel identified by the initials FLD, BY, HEN and ITL.
Prosecutors said the envelopes represented payments allocated to different officials within the customs intelligence and enforcement structure.
Orlando testified that John Field and a woman identified as Sri Pangastuti initially asked him to distribute all the envelopes to the listed recipients.
However, Orlando claimed he refused to deliver envelopes intended for other officials and only accepted the packages coded “2-SS” and “4-OC.”
He said he instructed John and Sri to personally deliver the remaining envelopes to the respective recipients.
Despite denying involvement in distributing funds to senior customs officials, Orlando admitted receiving the envelopes on six separate occasions between August 2025 and early 2026.
He also confirmed that discussions involving customs officials and John Field took place during meetings at Hotel Borobudur in Jakarta in mid-2025.
During one of those meetings, Orlando testified that there was a private conversation involving John Field, Djaka Budhi Utama and Rizal.
Prosecutors believe those meetings formed part of the broader arrangement behind the alleged bribery network.
According to KPK investigators, John Field is suspected of distributing approximately Rp61.3 billion in bribes to customs officials between August 2025 and January 2026.
The alleged payments were intended to ensure favorable treatment for Blueray Cargo’s import activities and reduce the likelihood of inspection or enforcement action.
The case has intensified scrutiny over Indonesia’s customs system and renewed concerns regarding corruption risks within import licensing and border enforcement institutions.
The Directorate General of Customs and Excise plays a critical role in regulating Indonesia’s import flows, collecting state revenue and preventing illegal goods from entering the country.
Analysts say manipulation of customs inspection systems can have wide-ranging consequences, including revenue losses, unfair competition for legitimate businesses and increased circulation of counterfeit or unsafe products in domestic markets.
The scandal has also sparked questions regarding internal oversight mechanisms within customs enforcement agencies and the vulnerability of digital inspection systems to abuse by insiders.
The KPK has not ruled out additional suspects as the investigation continues.
Court proceedings are expected to continue in the coming weeks as prosecutors present additional evidence and testimony related to the alleged bribery network.
