Former Indonesian Customs Official Charged with Receiving $500,000 in Bribes

A former official in Indonesia's Directorate General of Customs and Excise faces charges of accepting bribes amounting to approximately Rp 7.69 billion (around $500,000 USD). Budiman Bayu Prasojo, formerly the Head of Intelligence Section for the Directorate of Enforcement and Investigation, is accused of receiving the illicit funds from various private entities.

Prosecutors at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) detailed the alleged gratifications during a trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court. The funds were reportedly received in various currencies, including Singapore dollars, US dollars, Hong Kong dollars, and Malaysian ringgit. If converted to Indonesian Rupiah, the total sum reaches Rp 7,699,449,750.

Prosecutors claim the bribes were received from John Field, owner of Blueray Cargo, and his associates, as well as from cigarette entrepreneurs and other businessmen whose operations involved the Directorate of Enforcement and Investigation. Meetings allegedly took place at the Customs headquarters to discuss "attention from various parties" regarding Blueray Cargo's business activities.

According to the indictment, Prasojo received money from Blueray Cargo representatives seven times, totaling Rp 525 million in Singapore dollars. He also allegedly received Rp 5.278 billion, along with foreign currency, from cigarette entrepreneurs and other parties between September 2024 and January 2026. The KPK is prosecuting Prasojo alongside other officials allegedly involved in the scheme.