Ilham Habibie Must Wait For KPK To Auction Mercedes 280 SL If He Wants His Father's Collection Again

KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo (Tsa Tsia/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said the confiscated goods could be owned again by the owner through an auction mechanism. This process is usually carried out according to the court's decision.

This was conveyed by KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo in response to the statement of the son of the 3rd President of the Republic of Indonesia B. J. Habibie, Ilham Akbar Habibie who wanted to take his father's Mercedes 280 SL collection which was purchased by former West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil. The vehicle was confiscated because it was allegedly bought with money related to the corruption case in the procurement of advertisements at PT Bank Pembangunan Daerah Jawa Barat and Banten Tbk or Bank BJB (BJBR).

"If later it is decided by the panel of judges to be confiscated for the state, then the car can then be auctioned or other mechanisms," Budi said when confirmed, Thursday, September 4.

This other mechanism arose because Ridwan Kamil had not paid off the purchase of the car. So to prevent disputes during the auction, Budi said investigators were looking for the best solution.

Meanwhile, after the auction is conducted, money will enter the state as non-tax state revenue (PNBP) to replace the losses caused by alleged corruption. However, the process certainly takes time because the car is still needed by investigators.

"The current position of the car is in the confiscation of investigators for the process of proof (cases being handled, red)," he said.

Meanwhile, Ilham Habibie expressed his desire to take the classic car Ridwan Kamil bought from him. This statement was made after undergoing an examination at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta on Wednesday, September 3.

Initially, Ilham said that the sale and purchase process occurred in 2021 and began when Ridwan Kamil saw the vehicle of his father's collection. The Golkar Party politician then bid for Habibie's Mercedes Benz 280 SL and agreed on a selling value of Rp. 2.6 billion.

However, Ridwan Kamil only paid Rp1.3 billion or half. So, the two of them met last year and agreed to cancel the sale and purchase.

Ilham admitted that he was ready to replace Ridwan Kamil's money to get his father's car again at that time. However, it turned out that Mercy Pagoda was still in the workshop and the workshop did not want to spend it because Ridwan Kamil had not paid the cost of restoration.

In addition, the Mercedes Benz 280 SL was also immediately confiscated by the KPK. "Yes, I have to pay, yes, indeed with or without the KPK. If there is no KPK, yes, I will still pay to Mr. Ridwan (to get the car again, ed)," Ilham told reporters after undergoing examination.

"Now (to get the car, red) I pay to the KPK, right. I also don't know what the process is," continued the former deputy governor candidate for West Java during the 2024 Pilkada.

Previously reported, the KPK confiscated evidence related to the corruption case in the placement of advertisements for PT Bank Pembangunan Daerah Jawa Barat and Banten Tbk or Bank BJB (BJBR) for the period 2021-2023. Among them are deposits worth IDR 70 billion to vehicles.

"We also confiscated a sum of money, but in the form of deposits of approximately Rp. 70 billion, then there were several two-wheeled and four-wheeled vehicles," said Acting Director of KPK Investigation, Budi Sokmo, to reporters at the KPK's Red and White Building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Thursday, March 13, 2025.

In this case, five suspects have been named. They are former President Director of Bank BJB Yuddy Renaldi; Head of Corporate Secretary Division of Bank BJB Widi Hartoto; Agency Controller Antedja Muliatama and Cakrawala Kreasi Mandiri Kin Asikin Dulmanan; Agency Controller of BSC Advertising and PT Wahana Semesta Bandung Ekspres (WSBE) Suhendrik; and Controlling 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.