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Jokowi's Metallica guitar a gratuity: KPK
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) confiscated on Tuesday a bass guitar given to Governor Joko "Jokowi" Widodo by a music promoter after concluding that it was a form of gratuity
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he Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) confiscated on Tuesday a bass guitar given to Governor Joko "Jokowi" Widodo by a music promoter after concluding that it was a form of gratuity.
Earlier in May, promoter Jonathan Liu, who planned to hold a Metallica concert in Jakarta later this year, gave an Ibanez bass guitar with a personal message and signature of Metallica's Robert Trujillo on the guitar to Jokowi, who is known as an avid heavy metal fan.
The message read "Giving back! To Jokowi. Keep playing that cool funky bass."
"Jonathan Liu obtained the guitar and asked [Trujillo] to sign it, before giving it to the governor as a present. There was an element of interest in the event," KPK director for gratuities Giri Supradiyono said after a meeting with Jokowi at City Hall on Tuesday.
However, he said, a handwriting analysis found that the words "giving back" was added later by another person which the commission interpreted as "wanting something in return".
Jokowi has previously denied that the guitar was a gratuity for the expedition of the concert permit issuance.
Giri said the commission had two options for the souvenir: auction it or have it displayed in a museum. Jokowi said he preferred the guitar to be exhibited in a public space.
