Bogor Deputy Mayor Emerges After Three-Week Absence, Reveals Reasons for Absence

BOGOR — Bogor Deputy Mayor Jenal Mutaqin rejected all speculation surrounding him during a three-week absence from duty. He resurfaced after having been away since 18 February 2026 and appeared at Bogor City Hall to pay taxes on Thursday, 5 March 2026.

According to Kompas.com, Jenal wore a brown long-sleeved shirt and black trousers. He went to City Hall to settle his taxes. However, he did not elaborate further on the speculation or issues circulating about him.

‘I only found out yesterday, when I met the Mayor, about the developing speculation and issues ABCD; I was fortunate not to have my phone active,’ he told reporters at Bogor City Hall on Thursday.

Jenal emphasised that his absence from duty was not due to illness and that he required total rest. His personal social media accounts had been deliberately deactivated to focus on recovery. He has been recuperating at home with his wife by his side. He has now returned to work, though he is not yet in full health.

‘Once again I apologise as a ordinary person; illness cannot be avoided; yesterday I needed total rest. We switched off social media to aid recovery, and my wife cared for me at home until now and I am still a little weak, especially during fasting,’ he said.

He said he is suffering from gout but declined to provide further details about the illness. ‘The Mayor has known about this from the start; I am ill in a condition I cannot explain in detail, but it stems from gout. The rest may only be known to me,’ he added.