Mardani Feels Criminalized By KPK, MAKI: If You Don't Feel Guilty You Can Pretrial

Mardani H. Maming (Photo: BPMI Setpres/Lukas)

JAKARTA - Coordinator of the Indonesian Anti-Corruption Society (MAKI) Boyamin Saiman regretted the attitude of former Tanah Bumbu Regent Mardani H. Maming who said he was criminalized. He thinks it is not good if there are parties who degrade the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) with certain issues.

"It's not good to build an opinion on degrading the KPK with the issue of criminalization. Whatever the KPK is, it is part of our legal system that is regulated by applicable laws," Boyamin told reporters in a written statement, Tuesday, June 21.

Instead of building a narrative, continued Boyamin, Mardani should have filed a pretrial on his legal status.

"Maming can take pretrial if he feels innocent," he said.

Boyamin asked all parties to comply with the legal process that occurred. If not guilty, the authorities certainly will not arbitrarily punish people.

"There is no criminalization, everyone should obey the legal process that is taking place in law enforcement, both in the Police, the Prosecutor's Office, the KPK," said Boyamin.

"Just follow it and later if you are not guilty, you will be declared innocent," he added.

As previously reported, the General Treasurer (Bendum) of the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Executive Board, Mardani Maming, felt he was being criminalized after being named a suspect by the KPK. He accused the legal mafia and asked all parties to fight.

"This country must not lose to the legal mafia, young people must unite against all of this, today it is my turn to be criminalized, what will come it could be your turn, many have become victims, but all media are silent," Maming told reporters in a statement. he wrote, Tuesday, June 21.

The Directorate General of Immigration confirmed that Maming was prevented from going abroad as a suspect for six months from June 16 to December 16 next. Prevention is carried out after being asked by the anti-corruption commission.

"Yes (prevented as a suspect, ed)," said Sub-Coordinator of Public Relations of the Directorate General of Immigration, Achmad Nur Saleh, confirming the information in a written statement, Monday, June 20.

Mardani H Maming has been questioned by KPK investigators some time ago. After being questioned, the former Regent of Tanah Bumbu admitted that he was asked for information regarding his problems with the owner of PT Jhonlin Group Samsudin Andi Arsyad alias Haji Isam.

Even so, Maming's name was actually mentioned as receiving Rp89 billion in money in a trial for alleged bribery of a mining business permit (IUP) in Tanah Bumbu Regency which was held at the Tipikor Court, Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan (Kalsel).

This allegation was conveyed by the younger brother of former President Director of PT Prolindo Cipta Nusantara (PCN) Henry Soetio, Christian Soetio. At that time, Christian claimed to know that there was a flow of funds to the former Regent of Tanah Bumbu Mardani H Maming through PT Permata Abadi Raya (PAR) and PT Trans Surya Perkasa (TSP).

The money transfer has been going on since 2014. The amount of tens of billions of rupiah is referred to as the amount quoted based on PT PCN's financial statements.