Presidential Candidate Denies Having Bank Accounts Abroad

Jakarta (Antara) - Presidential candidate Joko Widodo (Jokowi), who almost certain to win the presidential race, denied on Tuesday having bank accounts abroad. "I have been an exporter for 24 years. We have never has bank account abroad. I and my wife never have," the Jakarta governor said. Jokowi is almost certain to be named president elect after his rival Prabowo Subianto declared he "withdrew" from the process of vote recapitulation on Tuesday. Prabowo accused the election commission (KPU) of being unfair and rejected the results of the election. Prabowo's statement was made hours before KPU announced that Jokowi won the election on Tuesday evening. Jokowi was formerly a producer and exporter of wooden furniture. "Not many people being an exporter, but I was only a small exporter," he said. Earlier chairman of the Progress '98 Faizal Assegaf said Jokowi did not report his assets with 32 bank accounts abroad to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). Presidential candidates are required to report their assets to the agency and to the KPU. Faisal said Jokowi had bank accounts in a number of countries such as Hong Kong, the Philippines, Singapore, Mongolia, Jordan, and Lebanon. (*)