Anwar Usman's Wealth Soars by Rp28.68 Billion Since Becoming Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court

The Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court (MK), Anwar Usman, has recently come under scrutiny following a decision deemed to have created a "path" for President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi's) eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who is also his nephew, to run in the 2024 Presidential Election (Pilpres).

The MK granted a lawsuit challenging the age limit for presidential and vice-presidential candidates (capres and cawapres) under 40 years old, provided they have previously served as regional heads. This MK decision was announced on Monday, October 16, 2023.

"How could a conflict of interest suddenly be perpetuated? How could the consistency of open legal policy suddenly change? How could a judge who initially consistently rejected experience suddenly change their stance?" said Constitutional Law expert Zainal Arifin Mochtar in a tvOne interview on Monday, October 16, 2023.

Most recently, on Monday, October 23, 2023, the MK rejected a lawsuit regarding the upper age limit of 70 years for presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

Both MK decisions regarding the lawsuits on the upper and lower age limits for presidential and vice-presidential candidates are seen as paving the way for Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka to run in the 2024 Presidential Election. Prabowo is currently 72 years old, while Gibran is 36.

When Anwar Usman read the court's decision, the legal counsel for the plaintiff interrupted. They objected to the position of the Chief Justice of the MK, who is related to the Mayor of Solo, Gibran Rakabuming.

"We all know that the nephew of the Honorable Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court is Mr. Gibran Rakabuming Raka," said the plaintiff's legal counsel, as reported by CNN Indonesia on Monday, October 23, 2023.

Anwar interrupted, asking the legal counsel to listen to the decision first. "Wait, listen to the decision first," he said.

However, the legal counsel continued, emphasizing that their statement concerned a conflict of interest, referring to the relationship between Anwar and Gibran.

"Wait, Your Honor, because this is related to a conflict of interest, so we ask that Your Honor not participate in the decision," said the plaintiff's legal counsel.

Despite this, Anwar insisted on continuing to read the decision. The legal counsel eventually stopped speaking. "Listen first. There are no interruptions during a decision hearing," said Anwar.

Anwar Usman's Wealth Increased by Rp28 Billion

According to the Electronic State Officials' Wealth Report (LHKPN) from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Anwar had assets totaling Rp33.49 billion in 2022. He submitted this wealth report to the KPK on January 24, 2023.

Since becoming Chief Justice of the MK in 2018, Anwar Usman's wealth has increased by Rp28.68 billion in the past four years. The wealth of Jokowi's brother-in-law saw a dramatic increase in 2020, rising by Rp21.43 billion, from Rp5.02 billion to Rp26.45 billion.

The latest data shows that the majority of Anwar Usman's wealth consists of cash and cash equivalents, totaling Rp27.59 billion in 2022.

The man from Bima, West Nusa Tenggara, also owns 31 plots of land and buildings worth Rp5.17 billion. These immovable assets are spread across Bekasi, South Tangerang, Lumajang, and Bima.

Anwar also owns four cars and one motorcycle, including a Toyota Kijang and a Toyota Corolla Altis Sedan. The total value of these five vehicles is Rp301 million.

Here is a complete list of Anwar Usman's assets according to the 2022 LHKPN:

* Land and buildings: Rp5.17 billion
* Transportation and machinery: Rp301 million
* Other movable assets: Rp300 million
* Securities: Rp123 million
* Cash and cash equivalents: Rp27.59 billion
* Other assets: -
* Debts: -