Bob Hasan

Bob Hasan, born as Zhèng Jiànshèng (The Kiang Seng), was later known as Mohamed Hasan, but took the Western name Bob. He was taken in as a foster-child by Lieutenant-General Gatot Subroto, by whom he became friendly with Colonel Suharto, President of Indonesia from 1967-98. Helped by Suharto, Bob Hasan became chair of the Indonesian Wood Panel Association (Apkindo) and was dubbed “king of the forest” and “the plywood king,” controlling the entire wood trade in Indonesia.

Hasan entered sports administration in 1973 as vice-chair of the Indonesian Golf Association. In 1979 he became President of the Indonesian Athletic Federation and in 1991 became chair of the Asian Amateur Athletic Association. His other roles included President of the Southeast Asian Gymnastics Confederation and vice-president of the Olympic Council of Asia, and he also led the Indonesian Weightlifting Federation. In 1994 Hasan was co-opted onto the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

In early 1998 Hasan was made Minister of Industry and Trade in Indonesia. Shortly thereafter, Suharto was forced to stand down as President after prolonged protests and eventual claims that he diverted over $500 million (US) in funds to his own accounts. Hasan concurrently lost his Cabinet post.

Hasan was then accused of numerous misdeeds, including in 2001 of embezzlement of $243.6 million (US). He was convicted of corruption, sentenced to six years in prison, and given a large fine. Hasan was then expelled by the IOC in 2004 after a damning report by the Ethics Commission. Hasan was released from prison on parole in 2004 but continued to serve as President of the Indonesian Athletic Federation until his death in 2020.