Joko Widodo Named Among Top Corrupt Figures of 2024 by OCCRP; Indonesian Law Expert Unsurprised
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has been named among the top five corrupt figures of 2024 by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), drawing little surprise from Indonesian legal expert Herdiansyah Hamzah.
Herdiansyah, a law professor at the University of Mulawarman, told Tempo that Jokowi’s inclusion was not unexpected given the president’s track record. "It’s not surprising. We’re all aware of the numerous problems related to the weakness in combating corruption under Jokowi’s administration," he said, attributing the nomination to Jokowi’s policies.
OCCRP’s nomination process involves global surveys conducted with the help of journalists and its network. Herdiansyah explained that the decision to nominate Jokowi was not based solely on criminal cases but also on broader governance failures. He cited the weakening of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) under Jokowi’s watch, as well as the failure to address numerous cases due to leadership issues.
Additionally, Herdiansyah pointed to concerns over the democratization of Indonesia under Jokowi’s rule. He believed that the government’s attempts to establish a political dynasty, includingthe apparent compromise of judicial institutions like the Constitutional Court, contributed to this nomination.
"These are the issues that led to Jokowi’s nomination as one of the world’s most corrupt figures," Herdiansyah said. He also downplayed the relevance of KPK’s role in this nomination, given current public trust issues in the agency.
The OCCRP announced Jokowi’s nomination as one of the five finalists for the ‘Person of the Year: Corruption and Organized Crime 2024’ award, alongside Kenyan President William Ruto, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Bangladeshi former Prime Minister Hasina, and Indian businessman Gautam Adani. The winner will be determined through public voting and inputs from journalists and OCCRP’s global network.