Another significant player in Indonesia’s garlic import market besides Timothy Savitri and Basuki Hariman is Martin Zefanya, a figure who remains largely opaque. Little public information is available about him, and no photograph could be found online.
Martin Zefanya was born in Jakarta in 1968 and is currently based in Semarang. Corporate records show that he is affiliated to at least 18 companies involved in garlic imports, although his precise operational role within these firms — and any political connections he may have — remain unclear.
In September 2022, Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) summoned Martin Zefanya as a witness in its investigation into a mining permit corruption case involving former Tanah Bumbu Regent Mardani H. Maming. Public records do not specify the reason for his summons, nor clarify his role or connection to the case.
According to a company prospectus, he sold PT Singamas Rajaniaga (a sugar distribution company) to Andreas Utomo, who seems to be his business partner.
His business interests extend beyond garlic. Zefanya also owns PT Permata Hijau Nusantara, an importer of apples, grapes, and dates sourced from China and Egypt.
Architectural drawings uploaded to Scribd (addressed to Martin Zefanya & Silviana) indicate that he is currently constructing a large private residence in the upscale neighborhood Bukit Sari, Tembalang, Semarang using PT NUSA RAYA CIPTA as a contractor. The project, built on approximately 7,200 square meters, lists PT Nusa Raya Cipta as the contractor. The design includes two floors dedicated to a car gallery connected by a vehicle lift, two master bedrooms with a total of four walk-in closets, as well as a tennis court, sauna, steam room, and home theater.
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Trade Analysis
Analysing trade records from 2018 until 2023, and company ownership data shows more than a dozen of companies connected to Zefanya.
In 2020, the year garlic imports peaked, Zefanya legally imported at least USD 98 million worth of garlic. Imports fell sharply to USD 27 million the following year, and since 2024 his companies have virtually ceased importing altogether.
Corporate address data indicates that many of Zefanya’s companies make use of virtual offices, often sharing addresses with unrelated corporate clusters. Frequently used locations include the 17th Floor of the Indonesia Stock Exchange Building and Wisma GKBI, 39th Floor — both known virtual office providers. What distinguishes Zefanya’s network, however, is its geographic dispersion, spanning Semarang, Surakarta, Sleman, Jakarta, and Makassar.
Several recurring individuals appear across his corporate filings. Wulan Nila Kusuma, listed in four companies, is likely a staff member. Muhammad Faizal R, also appearing in four entities, resides in Makassar and uses his home address — Peternakan II №217 — as the registered address for CV Sinergi Pangan Semesta.
News reports
Zefanya controls two companies with nearly identical names, PT Berkat Putih Abadi and CV Berkat Putih Abadi, both of which have attracted media attention in recent years. In January 2025, local news reported that a land dispute involving PT Berkat Putih Abadi had been formally submitted to police and the prosecutor’s office in Brebes Regency, Central Java. According to the report, a lawyer alleged potential violations of agrarian and land laws linked to the purchase and re‑registration of land under the company’s name. The claim detailed that “hundreds of hectares” were transferred to individuals, including employees and the company owner, in ways that may have breached legal ownership limits, and raised suspicions of collusion with land officials and notaries. (tipikorinvestigasi.com)
Separately, CV Berkat Putih Abadi was reported to have been involved in agricultural operations as part of Indonesia’s garlic import regulations. The company planted garlic across approximately 700 hectares of farmland in Central Java, in regions including Wonosobo, Boyolali, and Semarang, fulfilling the requirement that importers cultivate at least 5% of the volume they plan to import annually. This initiative linked Zefanya’s corporate activities directly to domestic agricultural production, highlighting the breadth of his business interests beyond imports into land development and farming. (suara.com)
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| A garlic warehouse in Temanggung (AntaraNews) |
Conclusion
Zefanya’s import network was extensive yet largely invisible. Its rapid rise highlights persistent transparency gaps in Indonesia’s garlic import regime.
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