As the youngest son of President Joko Widodo, Kaesang faced significant public scrutiny on social media after using a private jet to travel to the US with his wife Erina Gudono during a period of widespread protests against the House of Representatives' attempts to amend the regional law election in August this year.
The protests led to Kaesang's exit from the gubernatorial elections.
Netizens, particularly on social media platforms such as X, discussed the possibility of gratification after seeing Gudono's posts about the private jet's interiors and her lavish trip on her Instagram account.
Prior to her US trip, she announced that she had received a scholarship to study social policy at the University of Pennsylvania.
However, some Indonesians sent off letters to the university, questioning the legitimacy of her scholarship given her privileged background.
Consequently, Kaesang was reported to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) by Indonesian Anti-Corruption Society (MAKI) coordinator Boyamin Saiman and Jakarta State University (UNJ) lecturer Ubaidilah Badrun.
Under public pressure, Kaesang on Tuesday "voluntarily" approached the anti-graft body to offer an explanation about his use of the private jet and address allegations of gratification.
"My appearance at the KPK is a testament to my commitment as a responsible citizen. I am neither a state administrator nor an official. I came here voluntarily, not in response to an invitation or a summons," Kaesang, who is the Indonesia Solidarity Party's general chair, said.
"I clarified that on my trip on August 18 (2024) to the United States, I hitched a ride on a friend's plane," he added.
However, he declined to provide further details about the trip, requesting that inquiries about it be directed to the KPK.
"For more information, please contact the KPK directly," said Kaesang, who co-owns football club Persis Solo. Free Fire, developed by Singaporean online gaming company Garena, is one of the club's sponsors.
Saiman commended Kaesang's decision to appear before the KPK.
"I appreciate Kaesang's proactive approach in addressing this matter. It will undoubtedly facilitate the KPK's investigation into allegations of gratification," he said on Wednesday.
He expressed hope that the KPK will promptly determine whether the facilities Kaesang used constituted gratification or not.
If the KPK determines the gratification allegations to be true, Kaesang must return an equivalent amount to the state, he said.
Earlier this month, Kaesang's brother-in-law, Bobby Nasution, who is the mayor of Medan, North Sumatra, was also reported to the KPK for allegedly accepting the use of a private jet.
Bobby reportedly used the jet for trips in February 2023.
Referring to Kaesang's case, the KPK's deputy for prevention and monitoring, Pahala Nainggolan, said that the agency will confirm the identity of the person who offered him a ride on the private jet.
"We will verify the accuracy of the claim that Kaesang hitched a ride on someone's plane," he informed at the KPK's Anti-Corruption Education Center Building in South Jakarta on Tuesday.
Nainggolan revealed that the KPK has learned that a person with the initials Y facilitated Kaesang's travel. However, the KPK lacks information about their full identity, citizenship, and aircraft ownership, he said.
"We will conduct further investigation to confirm these details," he added.
Nainggolan indicated that the commission will finish analyzing Kaesang's clarification about the use of the private jet within days.
"We will analyze the report within 30 days, but I anticipate it will be finished within 3 to 4 days," he said.
He disclosed that the primary focus of the analysis will be to determine whether the facilities used were state-owned or not.
Responding to his son's decision to visit the KPK to explain his trip, President Widodo emphasized that all citizens are equal under the law, including his son.
"I have stated unequivocally that all citizens are equal before the law," he stated.
Meanwhile, KPK chairperson Nawawi Pomolango said that the agency has the authority to investigate Kaesang in connection with the alleged gratification.
"We must consider Kaesang's relationship with the government and his family," he said after a working meeting with Commission III of the House of Representatives at the Senayan parliamentary complex in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Pomolango emphasized that Kaesang cannot solely be viewed as an ordinary person.
"It's not that simple," he said.
"The public is aware of Kaesang's connections. Therefore, it's essential to consider these relationships in relation to potential gratification. The KPK has the authority to address such matters," he added.
He dismissed the notion that Kaesang's status as a non-public official shields him from being questioned about the alleged gratification, adding that influence peddling, a form of corruption, could be involved in the case.
The anti-graft body is aware of legal instruments such as influence peddling that can be applicable even if the benefits obtained by the individual are not directly related to the position held by a relative, Nawawi expounded.
While Kaesang's decision to address the allegations demonstrates a commitment to transparency and accountability, which is essential in a democratic society, the KPK's investigation into the matter will be a crucial aspect in maintaining public trust in government institutions. Related news: MAKI applauds Kaesang's 'private jet' clarification to anti-graft body
Related news: Political dynamics lead to Kaesang's exit from C Java race
Editor: Anton Santoso
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