Ridwan Kamil Buys Mercedes Benz 280 SL Owned By BJ Habibie But Hasn't Paid Off

Ilham Akbar Habibie after being questioned by the KPK/PHOTO: Wardhany Tsa Tsia-VOI

JAKARTA - Former West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil is said to have not paid off the Mercedes Benz 280 SL owned by the 3rd President of the Republic of Indonesia B. J. Habibie. RK has just paid Rp1.3 billion from the purchase price of Rp2.6 billion.

This was conveyed by the son of President Habibie, 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).

"(The examination, ed) is like before someone told me about the purchase of the car owned by Mr., which was inherited by us. (Purchase, ed) by Mr. RK, yes," Ilham told reporters at the KPK's Merah Putih building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta.

"The car was bought, in installments but has not been paid off. So it doesn't belong to him yet," he continued.

Ilham admitted that he had discussed the status of the car purchase with Ridwan Kamil. They met at his house and witnessed by a number of parties.

"I declare that if this is not repaid in the near future, then I will withdraw it again and he agrees," said Ilham.

However, Ilham's desire to pull the car could not be done. Because Ridwan Kamil has not paid the cost of restoring the classic car.

The Mercedes Benz 280 SL, continued Ilham, is being restored. "The workshop doesn't want to give it, because he hasn't been paid either," he said.

Ilham Habibie admitted that he did not know where the money Ridwan Kamil used to buy his father's car. He said the transaction took place in 2021 and he did not feel the money.

This is because the money goes directly to the party that usually takes care of his father's collection car.

"So there is a team that professionally handles it," explained the former deputy governor candidate for West Java in the 2024 Pilkada.

"And the money was used to fix another car. Because this team handles all the cars owned by the father," he continued.

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.