Celebrity Raffi Ahmad Implicated in Customs Bribery Case

Indonesian celebrity Raffi Ahmad has been implicated in a bribery investigation concerning the Directorate General of Customs and Excise within the Ministry of Finance. Ahmad's name emerged after he reportedly used Blueray Cargo, a company involved in the case, to import electronic goods, including iPhones, into Indonesia.

Achmad Taufik Husein, the acting director of investigation at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), confirmed that "there is a fact that Mr. RA [Raffi Ahmad] did entrust [items]." However, Husein stated that this particular lead has not been further developed in the ongoing customs bribery investigation. The KPK has not summoned Ahmad as the evidence did not yet strongly link his actions to Blueray Cargo's alleged immigration dealings with the Directorate General of Customs and Excise.

Despite the current lack of further development, Husein indicated that the KPK remains open to pursuing this angle should additional evidence surface. "Will the trial facts become new facts that need to be explored? Yes, we will conduct examinations, of course," he said. Ahmad's name first appeared during a trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court on June 5, involving John Field, the head of Blueray Cargo, and others.

During the trial, KPK prosecutors questioned a witness, Sri Pangestuti, also known as Tuti, a customs service provider. They asked about a request to ship laptops and iPhone 17s from the United States to Indonesia, a request allegedly made by Yohanes, John Field's personal assistant, when Ahmad visited Blueray Cargo's office in the U.S. Tuti confirmed the communication but claimed she refused the request. Ahmad's name also appeared in Yohanes's investigative report, where it was mentioned that he had cargo in Bali under Ahmad's name, facilitated by a Blueray Cargo employee in the U.S. Yohanes explained that Ahmad was on vacation and wanted to send back newly released iPhone 17s, though it's unclear if the shipment ultimately proceeded.