Strengthening Evidence Related To Mardani Maming's Alleged Bribery, KPK Examines 9 Witnesses

Former Regent of Tanah Bumbu and General Treasurer (Bendum) of PBNU Mardani H. Maming. (HIPMI doc)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) continues to strengthen evidence for alleged bribery by former Tanah Bumbu Regent Mardani H. Maming. This is done by examining a number of witnesses from the private sector to lawyers.

"So far, around 9 people have been summoned as witnesses, consisting of the private sector, civil servants, and lawyers," said Acting Spokesperson for the KPK for Enforcement, Ali Fikri, to reporters, Thursday, June 30.

Ali said the witness examination process would not be disturbed by the pretrial proposed by Mardani. The General Treasurer of the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU) is said to be a suspect in connection with the alleged bribery of mining permits in Tanah Bumbu Regency.

"The collection of evidence, of course, will continue even though there is a pretrial application," he said.

"The statements of the witnesses strengthen the evidence of the article elements in the process of investigating this case," Ali added.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has moved to investigate Mardani's alleged homicide. In fact, a search of his apartment in the Central Jakarta area has been carried out.

As previously reported, 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, the General Treasurer of the Nahdlaltul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU) was also investigated.

However, after being questioned, he 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 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.