Indonesian President May Have To Give Up METALLICA Box Set He Received From Danish Prime...

[MetalAges]

Indonesian president Joko "Jokowi" Widodo will file a report with the country's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) regarding the METALLICA "Master Of Puppets" box set he received from Danish prime minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen. Since the gift technically constitutes a form of gratification, it must legally be reported to the KPK, according to Coconuts Jakarta. The law is to prevent politicians from receiving gifts that could be considered a form of bribery. "The President is planning to report the gift of the METALLICA vinyl records to the KPK," presidential spokesperson Johan Budi said. Back in May 2013, Widodo was forced by KPK to turn over his autographed METALLICA bass guitar to the government, while authorities determined whether the instrument was merely a gift or a violation of ethics rules. Widodo received the bass from METALLICA bassist Robert Trujillo, but had to give it up to the state within 30 days, according to laws regarding gifts to state officials. Rasmussen presented Jokowi with the "Master Of Puppets" box set during a state visit on Tuesday (November 28) at the Bogor Palace in Indonesia. In return, Jokowi, gave Rasmussen a rencong (traditional dagger from Aceh). Jokowi's copy of the "Masters Of Puppets" box set came with the signature of METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich, who said he was thrilled Jokowi had accepted the gift. "This is way cool… I signed [a 'Master Of Puppets'] box set for Danish prime minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen to give to Indonesian president Joko Widodo who is well known as a huge fan of rock music and came to see us in Jakarta in '13," Lars wrote on Instagram. "Music really does connect people!" The 56-year-old Widodo, who served as governor of Jakarta before being elected president in 2014, attended METALLICA's August 2013 concert in the city — 25 years to the day after the release of the band's fourth album, "…And Justice For All", and more than 20 years after their tumultuous first show in Indonesia. Widodo has also professed love for other heavy metal bands like MEGADETH, LAMB OF GOD and NAPALM DEATH in the past.

This is way cool… I signed an MOP box set for Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen to give to Indonesian President Joko Widodo who is well known as a huge fan of rock music and came to see us in Jakarta in ‘13… music really does connect people!!! ???? @larsloekke @jokowi #masterofpuppets

A post shared by Lars Ulrich (@larsulrich) on Nov 28, 2017 at 9:56am PST​

Indonesia’s president @jokowi seemed eager to dig into his diplomatic gift from Denmark: A #MasterOfPuppets box signed by #heavymetal fans’ all-time favorit drummer @larsulrich @metallica pic.twitter.com/Epcq2paywh

— Lars Løkke Rasmussen (@larsloekke) November 28, 2017​

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