Indonesia’s corruption watchdog summons Widodo’s son Kaesang over private jet use

A clarification summons will be issued soon, Alexander Marwata, deputy head of the anti-corruption agency, said in a briefing on Friday. Kaesang Pangarep will be questioned to prove that the use of the private jet was not a gratuity, he said.

Kaesang’s representative and the president’s office were not immediately available for comment.

Although Kaesang himself is not a state official, the anti-corruption agency said it needed to clarify that the private jet is not an inappropriate gift received by virtue of his father’s position.

“Why do we need an explanation from Kaesang? Because we suspect, as it should be suspected, that there is a connection with state officials. We know Kaesang’s parents,” Marwata said.

Local media outlet Tempo reported that the plane was a Gulfstream G650ER, whose average rental price can go up to 300 million rupiah (US$19,150) per hour, sparking scrutiny as to where the president’s son’s funding comes from.

Details about Kaesang and Erina’s lavish trip, including posts about the couple eating a 400,000 rupiah lobster roll and shopping for a baby stroller estimated to cost over 20 million rupiah, had especially gone viral as it came in the wake of the political turmoil in Jakarta.

The hashtags “tone deaf” and “Marie Antoinette” trended on social media.

He’s also a food entrepreneur and owns about 40 per cent of the shares of a local football club in his hometown.

He was reported through the public complaint channel by Boyamin Saiman of the Indonesian Anti-Corruption Society.