Bambang Widjojanto Claims to be 'Intimidated' Amid Investigation

Liputan6.com, Jakarta The Deputy Chairman of Indonesian Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Bambang Widjojanto has gone through a thorough investigation conducted by the Indonesian Police Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) on Tuesday (03/02/2015). He later admitted that the throughout the investigation, he felt that he was being intimidated by the investigating officers.

Bambang is investigated after being previously detained as he is named as a suspect by Bareskrim for allegedly requesting a third party to provide a false- statement to the constitutional court in relation to the emerging conflict surrounding the regional elections at Kotawaringin Barat, Central Kalimantan back in 2010.

"Can you imagine, during the investigation I spotted a number of Indonesian Police Security Division (Provos) inside. Why are they all here all of a sudden? I have never seen them involved in cases such as this. This is what I want to protest about," Bambang said at the KPK building, Jakarta, Wednesday (04/02/2015).

Bambang also protested the questions given to him as it went astray with him asked about his job as an advocate shortly after he was being named. According to the law, it is already stated in number 18 year of 2003 law regarding advocate. It conveys how advocate cannot be charged for both civil-liability case and criminal case in trying to perform his/her duty with good intentions for the purpose of defending his/her client.

"And then I went like, we will continue to stay strong and defend my client. This is for the sake of my job as an advocate. I said that as I took full responsibility and to fulfil my client’s demand as I was being trusted," Bambang continued.

At the height of regional elections conflict at Kotawaringin Barat, Central Kalimantan back in 2010, Bambang Widjojanto performed his duty as the lawyer of both Ujang Iskandar and Bambang Purwanto. Both figures were the adversaries to Sugianto Sabran from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), the man who reported Bambang Widjojanto to Bareskrim earlier this year.

"Since many of the questions asked involving my job as an advocate, I answered most of them with the laws of advocacy. Even with me having the right to refuse in providing any answer to the questions given, I still answer them and refer it back to the Articles of 16 and 19 from the advocacy laws," Bambang continued.

According to him, Article number 16 in the law clearly states that advocate cannot be charged for both civil-liability case and criminal case in trying to perform his/her duty with good intentions for the purpose of defending his/her client. Article number 19 supported this statement as it says that the relationship between client and advocate should remain confidential that it should be secured from external complaint or dislike.

"So basically, in  legal constitution it is one of their jobs to defend their clients and suggest what is best for their position. If Bareskrim sees this as a problem or violation of the law, then all lawyers are deemed guilty. Bareskrim has to know that it is part of our job to defend our client, we help them with any means," Bambang further explained.

 Apart from that, Bambang also complained about how his team does get a copy of the investigation report (BAP).

"I went to file a complain as my team did not receive any copy of the investigation report by Bareskrim. It is clearly stated in the Article number 72 about the right for the suspect to possess a copy and the fact that i don’t get any of that suggest that there is no legal assurance. I know exactly why my team was not given a copy, I know it too well why," Bambang added.

Despite the growing discontentment, Bambang admits he enjoys debating with the investigating officer from the Subdirectorate VI  Daniel Bolly Hyronimus Tifaona.

"I think I enjoyed the debating session this morning with him, and I wrote that in the BAP report. About the debate, there were incidents that are potentially violent. But I was thankful that it did not continue and resolved quickly," Bambang concluded.

This case suggests that Bambang has violated Article 242 number 1 in conjuction of Article 55 number 1 and Article 55 number 2. Bambang was detained by Bareskrim on the 23 of January 2015. (Akp/Ein)