KPK Will Snare Anyone Who Helps Mardani Maming Escape From His Apartment

Former Regent of Tanah Bumbu Mardani H. Maming/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) warned that anyone who helped former Tanah Bumbu Regent Mardani H. Maming escape from his apartment in the Jakarta area would be subject to criminal charges.

Nothing should prevent the forced pick-up of the alleged bribery suspect and the gratification of the mining business license in Tanah Bumbu.

"We remind anyone that the law is prohibited from obstructing the investigation process that we are currently carrying out by deliberately hiding their whereabouts because they are subject to criminal sanctions," Acting KPK spokesman Ali Fikri told reporters, Tuesday, July 26.

Those who helped Mardani escape could be seen as obstructing the current investigation. They can be subject to Article 21 of the Anti-Corruption Law, which carries a maximum sentence of 12 years in prison.

Furthermore, Ali asked Mardani to cooperate in visiting the KPK's Red and White Building. This step is to speed up the legal process for alleged bribery and gratification related to the mining business permit that ensnared the General Treasurer of the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Executive Board.

"KPK invites the suspect to convey his legal rights in front of the investigative team so that the handling of this case can be resolved immediately," he said.

The public, continued Ali, were also asked to report if they knew of Mardani's whereabouts. "Because we all hope that corruption eradication can be carried out effectively and efficiently but still upholds the principles of human rights and justice," he said.

The KPK searched Mardani's apartment in an attempt to force him to pick him up on Monday, July 25 yesterday. However, investigators had to go home empty-handed because he was nowhere to be found.

Furthermore, the anti-corruption commission threatened to publish a list of people wanted on behalf of Mardani Maming. Moreover, he was uncooperative because he was absent twice from the investigator's summons.

Previously, Mardani was named a suspect after being prevented from going abroad by the Directorate General of Immigration at the request of the KPK. Before being named a suspect, he had also been questioned.

However, after being questioned, Mardani admitted that he was asked for information regarding his problem 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 for 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 Tanah Bumbu Regent, 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.