Kepri prosecutors charge former BP Karimun officials in cigarette quota corruption case.
Prosecutors in the Riau Islands have named three former officials of BP Karimun as suspects in a cigarette quota corruption case that allegedly cost the state nearly Rp182.9 billion. Two of the suspects are now in detention, while one remains free due to health reasons.
Three Officials Under Investigation
The Special Crimes Unit (Pidsus) of the Riau Islands High Prosecutor’s Office (Kejati Kepri) confirmed on August 28, 2025, that three former BP Karimun officials have been named suspects in a corruption case linked to the allocation of non-excise cigarette quotas. They are:
- CA, former Head of BP Karimun (2016–2019)
- YI, former Chairman of the Supervision and Control Team for Cigarettes
- DA, former Member of the same team
Illegal Quota Allocation
Investigators alleged that the suspects deliberately set non-excise cigarette quotas without referring to official data from authorized agencies. The quotas were significantly higher than regional needs and violated several regulations, including Ministry of Finance Decree No. 47/2012, PMK No. 120/2017, and directives from the Directorate General of Customs and Excise.
Massive Financial Loss
An audit by the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP) in Kepri revealed that the state lost Rp182,968,301,876.85 (approximately SGD 14.6 million) due to excess cigarette allocations that should have been subject to excise duties, cigarette tax, and VAT.
Detention and Legal Charges
Kejati Kepri has placed YI and DA in custody for 20 days at the Tanjungpinang Class IIB Detention Center. However, CA avoided detention on medical grounds. Head of Kejati Kepri, J. Devy Sudarso, stated that the suspects are charged under Article 2(1) jo Article 18 of the Anti-Corruption Law and related provisions of the Criminal Code, carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Commitment to Fighting Corruption
“Detention is part of the investigation process, and the case will soon be brought to trial. This reflects our commitment to eradicating corruption in the region,” Devy emphasized during a press briefing.
Broader Pattern of Abuse
The case adds to a series of corruption scandals involving free trade zone agencies in the Riau Islands. Previous prosecutions have seen officials from Bintan and Tanjungpinang jailed for similar abuses in cigarette and alcohol quota allocations. The repeated cases highlight systemic weaknesses in oversight of FTZ management.
The corruption scandal in Karimun highlights persistent governance challenges in Indonesia’s free trade zones, where lax oversight has enabled repeated abuses. With Batam, Bintan, and Tanjungpinang already facing similar scandals, this latest case underscores the urgent need for tighter regulation and transparent quota systems to protect both state revenues and public trust.
Sources: Batamnews (2025) , Radar Kepri (2025)
Keywords: Karimun Corruption, BP Karimun Officials, Cigarette Quota, Kepri Prosecutors, State Loss, Anti Corruption
