President Jokowi Nonchalant About Being Named OCCRP‘s 2024 Person of the Year Finalist for Organized Crime and Corruption
Indonesian President Joko Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, has responded casually to his inclusion in the final list for the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP)’s 2024 Person of the Year, specifically in the category for organized crime and corruption. The OCCRP, known for its investigative journalism across borders, has surprised the public by announcing this year’s finalists.
When asked about his inclusion in the list, Jokowi laughed and questioned, "Which corruption? What has been corrupted, and where is the proof?" He was speaking from his residence in Solo, Central Java, on Tuesday, February 28, 2024.
Extending his explanation, Jokowi attributed his inclusion to a lack of concrete evidence, stating, "Now, there are so many slanders, so many malicious framings. Many accusations without evidence. That’s what’s happening now."
Jokowi further emphasized that anyone can make accusations against him using whatever means they choose. "Anyone can use any vehicle for that purpose. They can use NGOs, political parties, mass organizations to accuse or make malicious framings, to make baseless accusations," he asserted.
Other notable figures included in OCCRP’s list are Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Kenyan President William Ruto, Indian businessman Gautam Adani, and former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
In a statement, OCCRP said the project aims to highlight the impact of corruption and criminal activities on societies worldwide and to encourage meaningful discourse about accountability and transparency in governance.
