Prosecutor Questions Who Coined the Term 'Sultan' Kemnaker, Defendant Says It Came from Noel

Prosecutors grilled defendant Irvian Bobby Mahendro in the extortion case involving occupational health and safety (K3) certificates about the origin of the term “Sultan Kemnaker” attributed to him. Bobby stated that the term came from former Deputy Minister of Manpower Immanuel Ebenezer Gerungan (Noel).

Bobby gave this testimony while appearing as a witness at the Central Jakarta Corruption Court on Monday (20/4/2026). He testified for defendants Noel, Fahrurozi as Director General of Occupational Safety and Health Supervision and K3 in March 2025, Miki Mahfud from PT KEM Indonesia, and Temurila from PT KEM Indonesia.

“Regarding the term Sultan Kemnaker, who actually coined it for you?” the prosecutor asked.

“I only found out after reading the examination record from Mr Immanuel. Mr Immanuel is the one who said I was the Sultan Kemnaker,” Bobby replied.

“From defendant Immanuel who stated that you are the Sultan Kemnaker, right?” the prosecutor asked.

“Yes,” Bobby answered.

Bobby claimed he did not know why the term “Sultan Kemnaker” emerged and was applied to him. He said he had asked Noel about it while in detention.

“Didn’t you ask him? You call him ‘abang’ (big brother), right? ‘Bang, what’s this about, Bang? Why do you call me Sultan Kemnaker?’ Didn’t you ask?” the prosecutor inquired.

“I did ask him while in the detention centre,” Bobby replied.

Bobby said Noel once explained the term “sultan”. He claimed to have expressed his objection to Noel about the term.

“What was his response?” the prosecutor asked.

“I asked, ‘Bang, what do you mean calling me Sultan Kemnaker?’ At that time, he replied that Sultan Kemnaker meant ‘you’re a leboy’ or something like that, many women or whatever his term was. Then I said, ‘What do you mean, Bang?’” Bobby answered.

“At that time, when I was communicating with Abang, he didn’t know about me having many women or whatever his term was. I didn’t accept being called by such a name,” Bobby added.

Previously, Noel and associates were charged with extorting certification applicants for additional fees in processing K3 certifications, totalling Rp 6,522,360,000. If they did not pay extra, the process would be obstructed.

The extortion practice was said to have occurred before Noel took office as Deputy Minister of Manpower. According to prosecutors, the practice continued, and Noel received a share.