A courtroom account has drawn attention to how operational funds at the Directorate of Enforcement and Investigation under Indonesia’s Directorate General of Customs and Excise were used for personal spending and gifts. Former Customs and Excise official Sisprian Subiaksono said the money was spent on an iPhone, travel tickets, and a luxury watch.
The testimony came during the trial of John Field, Dedy Kurniawan Sukolo, and Andri from Blueray Cargo Group. Prosecutors first explored where the operational funds came from before pressing Sisprian on how the money was used.
Funds traced to leftover budget allocations
Sisprian said the operational funds had existed before he took office. He explained that the money came from leftover accountability funds from DOK PPN, a special operational fund for securing state revenue, as well as unused business travel allowances, or SPPD.
According to him, funds from DIPA allocations that could not yet be accounted for, or had been accounted for in excess, were then shifted into an operational fund. He also stressed that the operational money was not part of the official budget that could be formally accounted for.
Spending on tickets, iPhone, and a Tag Heuer watch
When asked about the use of the money, Sisprian admitted that he once used Rp34 million from the operational fund to buy tickets to Brisbane for his family. He also confirmed that another Rp20 million had once been taken from the same channel.
On the iPhone purchase, Sisprian said he had asked for help buying a phone for his wife. He said the operational fund was used with the intention of paying it back later, although the reimbursement never happened because he was arrested in the customs case.
Prosecutors also raised the issue of a Tag Heuer watch. In response, Sisprian said he had once used operational funds to prepare a keepsake for Rizal, the Director of Enforcement and Investigation.
Connection to the Blueray Cargo bribery case
Sisprian’s testimony was delivered in the case involving Blueray Cargo Group leader John Field. He was indicted for bribing several officials at the Directorate General of Customs and Excise with Rp61 billion, along with luxury entertainment and goods worth Rp1.8 billion.
Along with John Field, the case also involved Dedy Kurniawan Sukolo as Operational Manager for Customs Clearance at Blueray Cargo Group and Andri as Head of the Import Documentation Team. Prosecutors said the bribes were given so Blueray Cargo Group’s imported goods could move faster through customs supervision.
The bribery indictment named Rizal, Sisprian Subiaksono, and Orlando Hamonangan, Head of the Intelligence Section for Customs at the Directorate of Enforcement and Investigation, as recipients. The group of Customs and Excise officials will be charged in separate case files.
The hearing highlighted how operational funds, described as coming from leftover budget accountability, were used for private spending and gift-giving. At the same time, the case exposed allegations of a large-scale bribery effort meant to speed imported goods past customs control.
