Man Who Reported President Jokowi's Sons Over Alleged Graft Face Threats

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Two of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's sons, Gibran Rakabuming and Kaesang Pangarep had officially been reported to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) over graft allegations on January 10, 2022. The person who reported them, Ubeidilah Badrun, claimed that he received threats from his social media account after filing the report.

"There have not been any direct threats, but across social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube, threatening comments do exist and even used words such as 'kill'," said Ubeidilah to Tempo on Thursday, January 13, 2022. 

Ubeidilah said that the report should be viewed as a momentum for the government to show their commitment to eradicate corruption and nepotism. "The best example is when the KPK handles this case seriously, as it involves people affiliated to the family within the State Palace," Ubeidilah said. 

One of the main arguments justifying his report is the business activities incriminating both of President Jokowi's sons that potentially opens the door leading to corruption. Ubeidilah explained that recently, PT Bumi Mekar Hijau, a subsidiary of the Sinar Mas Group, was only required to pay IDR 78 billion for forest fire compensation from the KLHK claim of IDR 7.9 trillion.

Ubeidilah said that further observation showed that, the reduction of the compensation was determined by the Palembang District Court following a business collaboration between two of the President's children and Anthony Pradiptya, who is the son of Gandi Sulistiyanto, an official of the Sinar Mas Group. This collaboration resulted in a new company called PT Wadah Masa Depan.

He also suspected a potential conflict of interest in the appointment of Gandi Sulistyanto as the ambassador for South Korea. 

MOH KHORY ALFARIZI