Travel ban on Victor Hartono casts spotlight on Indonesia's richest family

Ban may be seen as a move against loyalists of the ex-Widodo administration: Analysts

- Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja Indonesia Correspondent

Mr Victor Hartono - the chief executive of Indonesian conglomerate Djarum and the eldest son of billionaire Robert Budi Hartono - has been barred from leaving the country as part of an ongoing investigation into an alleged graft scheme involving attempts to reduce tax liabilities. PHOTO: CREDIT SUISSE

(CREDIT SUISSE)

The Indonesian authorities' decision to impose an overseas travel ban on a member of the country's richest family in connection with a tax-related corruption probe has cast the spotlight on that family as well as the relationship between Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and his predecessor Joko Widodo, said analysts.

Mr Victor Hartono - the chief executive of Indonesian conglomerate Djarum and the eldest son of billionaire Robert Budi Hartono - has been barred from leaving the country as part of an ongoing investigation into an alleged graft scheme involving attempts to reduce tax liabilities.

According to data from the Directorate-General of Immigration, the travel ban that was reported by the media on Nov 20 is in effect from Nov 14, 2025, to May 14, 2026.

A spokesman for the Attorney-General's Office said it had requested travel bans for several individuals pending an investigation into possible underreporting of corporate tax liabilities from 2016 to 2020, according to a Bloomberg report. The requests were to ensure the individuals' availability for questioning, he added.