KPK Questions Letter From Team Of Legal Counsel Stating Mardani Maming Will Come July 28

Acting KPK Spokesperson for Enforcement, Ali Fikri (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) questioned the contents of a letter from the legal team of former Tanah Bumbu Regent, Mardani H. Maming. It states that the suspect in the alleged bribery and gratification of the mining business license will only be present on July 28.

"If it is true that there was a letter sent by the suspect's lawyer, why was it only made on July 25, 2022, and it was announced that the suspect would be present on July 28, 2022", asked KPK Spokesperson for Enforcement Sector, Ali Fikri, to reporters on Wednesday, July 27.

Ali explained that the summons for Mardani Maming had been properly delivered twice. However, Mardani was never present even at the second summons last Thursday, July 21.

In fact, the letter was confirmed to have been received by Mardani. "In every summons, we also include a contact or contact person to make it easier for the called party to confirm", he said.

Even so, the KPK will check for letters from Mardani's legal team. Moreover, to send a letter there is a mechanism that must be passed.

"We will check and make sure the letter is correct, when sent and received by whom at the KPK, because of course the administration of correspondence at the KPK also has a bureaucratic mechanism like in other institutions", said Ali.

"We also want to convey, that we make sure that the handling of cases by the KPK is carried out according to the rule of law because our principle is that enforcing the law must not be done by violating the law itself", Ali continued.

Previously, Mardani Maming said he was ready to fulfill the KPK's summons as a suspect on July 28. This was conveyed through a letter signed by Muhammad Razif Barokah and Zamrony

“Allow us to reiterate that Br. Mardani H. Maming has always been cooperative and willing to provide information that is requested to be scheduled for Thursday, July 28, 2022", wrote the attorney from the Office of the Legal Aid for the Executive Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU).

Previously, the KPK included Mardani in the wanted list (DPO)  today, Tuesday, July 26. Previously, he was absent from the summons of investigators as a suspect twice.

When investigators visited his apartment in the Jakarta area, Mardani was also nowhere to be seen. So, investigators went home empty-handed.

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.

information related to the 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.

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.