TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

Customs in KPK crosshairs over extravagant lifestyles

High-profile former official sorry for ‘eroding public trust’ in government.

Nina A. Loasana (The Jakarta Post)
Premium
Jakarta
Wed, March 8, 2023

Change text size

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!

T

he Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) continued its crusade against misconduct in the public sector on Tuesday by interrogating former Yogyakarta Customs and Excise Office head Eko Darmanto over the provenance of his wealth, which he has been accused of flaunting on social media.

Speaking to the press after 8.5 hours of questioning at the KPK offices in South Jakarta, Eko apologized to the public while also claiming that he had not meant to show off his wealth to a wide audience.

“I apologize if my actions have eroded public trust in the Finance Ministry and the Customs and Excise Directorate General,” he was quoted by kompas.com as saying.

“However, I only shared the pictures of my [lifestyle] on my private Instagram account. Somebody must have stolen the pictures, leaked them to the public and framed it as me flaunting my wealth.”

Screenshots of Eko’s social media posts, including ones that show him riding expensive cruiser motorcycles and flying a Cessna aircraft, have circulated on social media in recent weeks, sparking a public outcry against the apparent excess and prompting the antigraft body to launch a probe into the sources of his wealth.

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has relieved Eko of his official duties for the length of the investigation.

A day before the interrogation, KPK commissioner for graft prevention Pahala Nainggolan said investigators had found Eko’s huge sums of debt and private collection of antique cars suspicious, considering he was not among the upper echelons of the Yogyakarta’s tax office.

to Read Full Story

  • Unlimited access to our web and app content
  • e-Post daily digital newspaper
  • No advertisements, no interruptions
  • Privileged access to our events and programs
  • Subscription to our newsletters
or

Purchase access to this article for

We accept

TJP - Visa
TJP - Mastercard
TJP - GoPay

Redirecting you to payment page

Pay per article

Customs in KPK crosshairs over extravagant lifestyles

Rp 35,000 / article

1
Create your free account
By proceeding, you consent to the revised Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.
Already have an account?

2
  • Palmerat Barat No. 142-143
  • Central Jakarta
  • DKI Jakarta
  • Indonesia
  • 10270
  • +6283816779933
2
Total Rp 35,000

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.

Share options

Quickly share this news with your network—keep everyone informed with just a single click!

Change text size options

Customize your reading experience by adjusting the text size to small, medium, or large—find what’s most comfortable for you.

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!

Continue in the app

Get the best experience—faster access, exclusive features, and a seamless way to stay updated.