Djarum Group Director Victor Hartono barred From Travel Amid Tax Corruption Probe
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Indonesia’s Directorate General of Immigration has imposed a travel ban on Victor Rachmat Hartono, the Main Director of PT Djarum, in connection with a sweeping corruption inquiry into alleged tax evasion.the ban, enacted on November 14, 2025, and lasting until May 14, 2026, stems from a case involving former Director General of Taxes, Ken Dwijugiasteadi, and centers on alleged irregularities in tax payments between 2016 and 2020.
The travel restriction, formalized under Decree Number KEP 379/D/DIP 4/11/2025, impacts five individuals identified by the Attorney General’s Office as being linked to the alleged corruption. Alongside Hartono and Dwijugiasteadi, Bernadette Ning Dijah Prananingrum, Karl Layman, and Heru budijanto Prabowo have also been prohibited from leaving the country.
“The proposing agency is the Attorney General’s Office. The reason is corruption,” stated Acting Director General of Immigration Yuldi Yusman on Thursday, November 20, 2025. The Attorney General’s Office initiated searches at multiple locations earlier in the week as part of the ongoing investigation into alleged crimes aimed at reducing tax obligations for companies and taxpayers.
Market Reaction and Hartono Family Wealth
Despite the gravity of the allegations, initial market reaction to the news has been muted. Shares of several Djarum Group subsidiaries – including PT. Sarana Menara Nusantara Tbk. (TOWR), PT. Global Digital Niaga Tbk. (BUY), and PT.Solusi Tunas Pratama Tbk. (SUPR) – remained unchanged at the opening of trading on November 21, 2025.
Though, some market fluctuations were observed. Private banking giant PT. Bank Central Asia Tbk. (BBCA) experienced a slight decline of 0.59%, closing at IDR 8,375 per share. Conversely, PT. Supra Boga Lestari Tbk. (RANC) saw a meaningful increase, rising 4.95% to ro 1,060 per share. .
The Hartono family consistently ranks among the wealthiest in Indonesia, according to Forbes. As of the latest estimates, Budi Hartono and Michael Hartono collectively hold assets valued at US$37.8 billion, equivalent to approximately Rp. 630.63 trillion. Victor Hartono is identified as the 9th generation of the extended Hartono family.
Investigation and Government Response
The investigation focuses on actions allegedly taken by tax personnel within the Directorate of taxes at the Ministry of Finance. According to a statement released on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, by the Head of the Attorney General’s Legal Data Center, Anang Supriatna, the searches were conducted to gather evidence related to the alleged corruption scheme.
The Director General of Taxes, Bimo Wijayanto, affirmed the Ministry’s commitment to cooperating with law enforcement. “Of course, in this context, we really respect how law enforcers, especially in this case the prosecutor’s office, are carrying out the process,” Wijayanto stated on Tuesday, november 18, 2025, at the CNBC Indonesia office.
The travel bans, enacted through Decrees KEP-380, 378, 381, 382, and 379, all dated November 20, 2025, underscore the seriousness with which Indonesian authorities are pursuing this case, signaling a broader effort to combat corruption within the country’s tax system.
