Former Customs Intelligence Chief Denies Taking Money from Blueray Owner

Lawyers for Budiman Bayu Prasojo, a former head of the Customs and Excise Directorate General’s intelligence section, say the prosecution’s witnesses failed to establish that he received money from Blueray Cargo owner John Field.

In a statement issued on September 7, the defense said testimony presented at the September 2 hearing did not describe any payment to Budiman in the case being heard by the Central Jakarta Corruption Court. The lawyers said the testimony instead raised questions about whether the alleged receipt could be individually linked to their client.

According to the defense, John Field testified that arrangements for money and its delivery were made at the request of Orlando Hamonangan, also known as Ocoy, the head of Customs Intelligence I at the Directorate of Enforcement and Investigation. Field did not testify that he gave money to Budiman, the lawyers said.

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Those witnesses did not testify that any money was given to Budiman Bayu Prasojo in connection with the case being examined by the Corruption Court.

The defense also addressed a meeting cited in the indictment. Budiman had been summoned by Sisprian Subiaksono, head of the Customs intelligence subdirectorate. When Budiman arrived, several people were already in the room and he was introduced to representatives of Blueray Cargo, his lawyers said. They added that discussions with Budiman concerned information about suspected violations involving cigarette excise duties, which fell within his official responsibilities.

The lawyers further disputed claims that Budiman received money from cigarette traders. They said the traders questioned in the case testified that they had made no payment to him. The defense also said operational funds for the Customs intelligence section required accountability reports based on official memoranda and approval from senior directors Rizal and Sisprian, rather than Budiman. It said Budiman had warned those superiors, before the case became public, against practices that could violate the law and damage the institution.

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When Budiman arrived, several other people were already in the room, and Budiman was then introduced to representatives of Blueray Cargo.