Jokowi enters OCCRP's list of most corrupt figures: responses from Jokowi and the KPK

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – The name of the 7th President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, is on the list of finalists for Person of the Year 2024 in the category of organizational crime and corruption according to the Organize Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).

However, there is more than just a name Jokowi in the OCCRP list. Because there are the names of Kenyan President William Ruto, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Indian businessman Gautam Adani.

This list of finalists is the result of a request for nominations from readers, journalists, judges and other parts of this organization's global network.

Among these nominations, former Syrian President Bashar Al Assad received the title of Person of the Year 2024 in the category of organizational crime and corruption.

Also read: Hasto Sindir on the extension of the mandate for 3 periods: response from the PDI-P, Jokowi and Bahlil

Reported Kompas.com Previously, OCCRP, based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, collected nominations via Google Form, distributed on November 22, 2024.

However, based on tracking as of December 31, 2024, the application period has ended and the OCCRP Google Form link is no longer accessible.

“Who is the most corrupt person of 2024? The Who is the most corrupt person of 2024? form is no longer accepting responses. Try contacting the owner of the form if you think it is wrong,” the statement reads on the Google form.

Jokowi's response

Responding to the fact that his name was among the finalists of the most corrupt figures according to OCCRP, Jokowi questioned and demanded that it be proven that he had committed acts of corruption.

“What was corrupt? Yes, what was proven,” Jokowi said with a laugh at his home in Sumber, Banjarsari Subdistrict, Solo City, Central Java on the 31st December 2024.

Read also: Prabowo and Jokowi enter 10 popular social media personalities 2024

However, he revealed that there were indeed many management which harms him without clear proof.

“Yes, what, what else? There is a lot of slander now, a lot management wicked. There are many accusations without any proof. This is what is happening now, isn’t it,” Jokowi said.

Asked whether the assessment had political content, Jokowi asked the organizers to ask it directly.

The former mayor of Solo pointed out that currently anyone can use any vehicle to slander themselves.

“Yes, just ask, just ask. People can use any vehicle. They can use NGOs, they can use parties, they can use mass organizations (social organizations) to accuse, to to create perverse intrigues, to launch perverse accusations like this.” Jokowi said.

Read also: Entered the OCCRP list of the most corrupt personalities in the world, Jokowi: prove it

Answer KPK

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), as the first guard in eradicating corruption in the country, was asked for its opinion regarding the inclusion of Jokowi's name in the OCCRP version of the list of the most corrupt people in the world.

“All Indonesian citizens have the same position before the law,” said KPK spokesperson Tessa Mahardhika Sugiarto in a written statement on Thursday (02/01/2025).

The Corruption Eradication Committee (KPK) invites the public who have information and supporting evidence regarding criminal acts of corruption committed by public officials or agents to report them using the channels and methods appropriate to law enforcement.

“Whether it is the Corruption Eradication Committee, or the police or the prosecutor's office which has the power to deal with criminal acts of corruption,” he said.

As is known, Jokowi is the 7th President of the Republic of Indonesia who led two periods, namely 2014-2019 and 2019-2024.

Also read: The KPK's response to Jokowi's inclusion in the OCCRP list of the most corrupt personalities

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