KPK Asks Pretrial Judge Mardani Maming To Strike Out Bambang Widjojanto's Name

Bambang Widjojanto/BETWEEN DOCUMENTATION

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has asked for the names of members of the DKI Jakarta Governor's Team for the Acceleration of Development (TGUPP) Bambang Widjojanto or BW to be removed from the list of legal counsel who accompanied former Tanah Bumbu Regent Mardani Maming in a pretrial hearing.

This request was submitted by the KPK at the South Jakarta District Court (PN) with the KPK's response to the pretrial request submitted by Mardani Maming. This application was made after he was named a suspect in the alleged bribery and gratification in Tanah Bumbu Regency, South Kalimantan.

"Orders by law to the clerk of the South Jakarta District Court to cross out the Petitioner's Legal Counsel on behalf of Dr Bambang Widjojanto in a Special Power of Attorney dated June 25, 2022 which has been registered at the South Jakarta District Court," said the petition from the KPK legal team which was read out here. South Jakarta District Court, Wednesday, July 20.

There are several reasons that caused the anti-corruption commission to ask for the deletion of BW's name. First, he served as Deputy Chairman of the KPK for the period 2011-2015 and still has a legal relationship with the respondent at the pretrial hearing, namely the KPK so that there has been a conflict of interest.

"Although Dr. Bambang Widjojanto is no longer the head of the KPK (Vice Chair), there is still a relationship between Mr. Dr. Bambang Widjojanto and the KPK (the respondent) because the KPK is obliged to provide legal assistance and security protection."

The KPK also touched on financial rights, protocol positions, and security protection for KPK leaders, which did not have a time limit.

"So, until now, Mr. Dr. Bambang Widjojanto still has a legal relationship with the KPK, so there is a conflict of interest in his position as the applicant's attorney in this pretrial," he said.

Next, BW's position as Head of the Legal and Corruption Prevention Division of the Jakarta Governor's TGUPP was also in the spotlight. Moreover, the pretrial applicant Mardani Maming is also a shareholder and/or becomes a board member with companies that run businesses in DKI Jakarta, including PT Batulicin Six Sembilan.

This condition also has the potential to create a conflict of interest between the duties and functions of BW as a member of the DKI Jakarta Governor's TGUPP and his position as a legal representative.

"Based on the description above, the granting of power of attorney from the Petitioner to Mr. Dr. Bambang Widjojanto violates the laws and regulations so that the power of attorney granted by the Petitioner to Mr. Dr. Bambang Widjojanto is invalid and null and void."

As previously reported, BW said that he had already taken leave from his job as a member of the DKI Jakarta TGUPP before becoming the attorney for former Tanah Bumbu Regent Mardani H. Maming.

He takes this leave every time he takes care of a big case, including when handling a pretrial between Mardani Maming and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

"I take leave when I face a big case like this," BW told reporters at the South Jakarta District Court, Tuesday, July 12.

Bambang also emphasized that he had not violated Article 3 letter i of the Indonesian Advocates' Code of Ethics. The article states that an advocate is prohibited from practicing while serving in the executive, legislative, or judicial domains.

Mardani filed a pretrial lawsuit to the South Jakarta District Court after receiving a letter of naming the suspect from the KPK. The Executive Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) appointed members of the Governor's Team for the Acceleration of Development (TGUPP) DKI Jakarta Bambang Widjojanto and former Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights (Wamenkumham) Denny Indrayana as legal counsel.

The chairman of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (HIPMI) has been named a suspect in alleged bribery and gratification related to mining permits in Tanah Bumbu, Kalimantan. This corrupt practice allegedly occurred when Mardani was still in office.

The determination of Maming as a suspect by the KPK was initially known from the Directorate General of Immigration when confirming the existence of prevention abroad. Meanwhile, the KPK has not made an announcement because efforts to force detention have not been carried out.