Debate Between Former Deputy Labour Minister Noel and "Sultan of Labour Ministry" on Intimidation and Pressure

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Former Deputy Minister of Manpower (Wamenaker) Immanuel Ebenezer, alias Noel, debated with Irvian Bobby Mahendro, Coordinator of Institutional and Personnel Affairs for Occupational Safety and Health (K3) at the Ministry of Manpower for 2022-2025, over whether intimidation occurred. Noel denied ever intimidating Bobby. However, Bobby claimed he felt pressured by Noel, including during their detention at the KPK detention centre. In the case of alleged corruption involving extortion in the processing of K3 certificates, both Noel and Bobby hold the status of defendants. “First, regarding the Ducati motorcycle, the Deputy Minister said to just say, ‘it’s borrowed’,” said Bobby, during the trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Tuesday (21/4/2026). Neither Noel nor Bobby explained the context of this conversation. Noel assessed that his statement was not pressure. However, Bobby believed otherwise. “Yes, that was pressure?” asked Noel. “Yes, in my opinion, that does not match the facts. So, in my opinion, that was pressure,” replied Bobby. Unwilling to be labelled as intimidating, Noel gave an example of the common methods of intimidation in his view. “What is called intimidation or pressure is when I point a gun at you, or sorry, I choke you, or I hold a gun to you, or I threaten ‘hey if you don’t read this, I will hit you, or I will slap you, or I will harm you’. That is what is called a threat,” said Noel. Then, Noel touched on Bobby’s statement that his wife had intimidated Bobby’s family. “Regarding my wife, Your Honour. He (Bobby) said yesterday that my wife called. Did my wife call your parents?” asked Noel.