Leave From TGUPP Anies Baswedan While Defending Mardani Maming In Pretrial, BW: There Are Much Bigger Interests

Bambang Widjojonto/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - Bambang Widjojanto or BW admitted that he was on leave from his job as a member of the Governor's Team for the Acceleration of Development (TGUPP) of DKI Jakarta before becoming the attorney for the former Regent of Tanah Bumbu 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," said BW to 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 reads that an advocate is prohibited from practicing while serving in the executive, legislative, or judicial domains.

"I've been tested in members of the profession and now I'm on leave," he said.

After all, he said there was a bigger interest in defending Mardani Maming. Moreover, he saw that his client was criminalized.

"Because there are far greater interests that must be exchanged and at stake, that's why I respectfully take the mandate of this appointment from PBNU and let's test it in a pretrial institution," he said.

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 allegations of bribery and gratification related to mining permits in Tanah Bumbu, Kalimantan. This corrupt practice allegedly occurred when Mardani was still in office.

The KPK's determination of Maming as a suspect 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.