Jakarta. Former West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil on Tuesday objected to the Corruption Eradication Commission’s (KPK) decision to seize one of his cars and a motorcycle as part of the corruption investigation involving Bank Jawa Barat dan Banten (BJB).

KPK confiscated a Mercedes-Benz 280 SL and a Royal Enfield motorcycle allegedly linked to the probe. Ridwan argued the vehicles were purchased using his private income.

“Everything was bought with personal funds — that is the truth I want to convey,” he told reporters after being questioned as a witness in the BJB advertising fraud case at the KPK headquarters in Jakarta.

Ridwan said he felt relieved to directly clarify the accusations targeting him and denied knowing anything about the flow of funds from the fraudulent advertising procurement.

He maintained that BJB never reported those corporate activities to him while he served as governor of West Java.

“Only three parties knew about the advertising procurement — the directors, the commissioners and the relevant bureau head. They never reported anything during my term,” he said. “So if people ask whether I knew, I did not. Let alone being involved or benefiting from it.”

Ridwan expressed hope that his testimony would help investigators dismantle the case and dispel public speculation.

“Because I had no knowledge of it, everything that has gone viral was purely about my personal assets. My own funds — nothing to do with the case,” he said.

The KPK confirmed that the seized Mercedes-Benz 280 SL was previously owned by the late President Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie. According to the investigation, Habibie’s eldest son, Ilham Akbar Habibie, inherited the vehicle before it was transferred to Ridwan. KPK Deputy for Enforcement Asep Guntur Rahayu added that the car’s documentation still lists the late president as the registered owner, making it a highly valuable collector’s item.

In March, the KPK named five suspects in the BJB case, who are accused of siphoning around Rp 222 billion (approximately $13.5 million) from the bank’s advertising budget during Ridwan’s term as governor. The suspects include former BJB CEO Yuddy Renaldi, BJB Corporate Secretary Widi Hartono and three advertising executives — Ikin Asikin Dulmanan, Suhendri and Sophan Jaya Kusuma. Yuddy resigned following the launch of the investigation.

KPK officers have also searched Ridwan’s private residence in Bandung, seizing documents and multiple personal assets. The seizure of Habibie’s Mercedes has fueled speculation that Ridwan may have purchased the car from Ilham using misappropriated BJB funds — an allegation Ridwan firmly rejects.

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