Ilham Habibie Said Ridwan Kamil Had Seen BJ Habibie's Car Collection Before Buying Mercedes Benz 280 SL

JAKARTA - The son of the 3rd President of the Republic of Indonesia B. J. Habibie, Ilham Akbar Habibie said Ridwan Kamil had seen his father's car collection. The former Governor of West Java then decided to buy Mercedes Benz 280 SL in 2021.

This was conveyed by President Habibie's son, Ilham Akbar Habibie, who was questioned by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Wednesday, September 3. He was questioned by investigators as a witness in a corruption case in the procurement of advertisements at PT Bank Pembangunan Daerah Jawa Barat and Banten Tbk or Bank BJB (BJBR).

Ilham initially said Ridwan Kamil visited his house and was interested in his father's car collection. Habibie is known to be a car collector, especially the Mercedes Benz brand.

"Yes, I once came to the house, Mr. (RK) saw his collection and he was interested in his car. He said he wanted to buy the car," Ilham told reporters at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta.

The former deputy governor candidate for West Java in the 2024 Pilkada admitted that he did not immediately agree.

"After I checked again, because there were two car types, I thought, yes, let's sell one to finance the other (car, red). There is a collection," said Ilham.

Furthermore, Ilham and Ridwan Kamil agreed that the selling price of the classic car was IDR 2.6 billion. However, the Golkar Party politician has only paid IDR 1.3 billion.

Ilham then invited Ridwan Kamil to his house to discuss the remaining payments. He even had time to convey his intention to take the car again and it was approved.

However, the car could not be returned because Ridwan Kamil was still in debt at the workshop. He is known to change the color of the car from silver to metallic blue.

"The workshop doesn't want to be given, because he hasn't been paid either. Well, after that, yes, not long after, it was already, (sita, red) the KPK. We don't know anything about the KPK because this is none of our business. Yes, that's more or less," he said.

The KPK has confiscated a number of vehicles allegedly owned by former West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil. One of them is the Mercedes Benz 280 SL which is said to be in a workshop to be restored.

The vehicle was confiscated for allegedly related to a non-budgeter fund of Bank BJB managed by the corporate secretary (corsec) section.

This non-budgeter fund is money obtained from the difference in paying for the procurement of advertisements by Bank BJB. The agency's company is suspected of returning the money through the corsec division.

Previously reported, the KPK has named five suspects in connection with allegations of corruption in the procurement of advertisements at PT Bank Pembangunan Daerah Jawa Barat and Banten Tbk or Bank BJB (BJBR).

They are former President Director of Bank BJB Yuddy Renaldi; Head of Bank BJB Corporate Secretary Division Widi Hartoto; Agency Controller Antedja Muliatama and Cakrawala Kreasi Mandiri Kin Asikin Dulmanan; Agency Controller BSC Advertising and PT Wahana Semesta Bandung Ekspres (WSBE) Suhendrik; and Controller of PT Cipta Karya Sukses Bersama (CKSB) and PT Cipta Karya Mandiri Bersama (CKMB) Raden Sophan Jaya Kusuma.

This case investigation warrant (sprindik) was issued on February 27, 2025. The actions of the five suspects are suspected of having caused the state to lose up to Rp22 billion.

Currently, the detention has not been carried out on five suspects. However, they have been prevented from traveling abroad for six months and can be extended according to the needs of the investigation.