Bandung Deputy Mayor Erwin Speaks After Prosecutors Drop His Case

Bandung Deputy Mayor Erwin has thanked prosecutors after his suspect status was revoked by the Bandung District Prosecutor’s Office in West Java, following the discontinuation of the investigation into his case. Responding to the development, Erwin expressed gratitude and said the prosecutor’s office had carried out objective law enforcement. “Yes, I would like to thank the Prosecutor’s Office for working objectively and adhering to legal principles. I thank the Head of the District Prosecutor’s Office, the Head of the High Prosecutor’s Office, and the Attorney General’s Office,” Erwin said in Bandung on Thursday (4/6). After his case was dropped and his suspect status nullified, Erwin stated he would resume official activities starting next week and coordinate with Bandung Mayor Farhan. He further mentioned that even while entangled in the case, he continued to follow developments in Bandung City and the various issues it faces. “I might try to discuss what my duties are in terms of sharing, so to speak, to resolve problems in Bandung City,” he said. Previously, the Bandung District Prosecutor’s Office had named Erwin and Bandung City Regional Legislative Council member Rendiana Awangga as suspects in an alleged corruption case within the Bandung City Government in December 2025. At that time, the Bandung Prosecutor’s Office was led by Irfan Wibowo. However, after six months passed, the Bandung Prosecutor’s Office under the leadership of Abun Hasbuloh Sambas discontinued the case. Abun explained that after the enactment of the new Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Code, investigators explored the possibility of funds being received by the suspects. However, to date, such facts have not been found. “Following the implementation of the new Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Code, the investigative team applied the precautionary principle by considering the spirit of the new codes in guaranteeing the rights of suspects,” Abun said in Bandung on Wednesday (3/6). “Furthermore, to minimise deficiencies in future actions, the investigative team explored whether there was a real flow of funds received by the suspects. However, these facts have not been found by the investigative team,” he continued. He added that following an exposé conducted on 22 May, for the sake of legal certainty, it was agreed to discontinue the case. “The final exposé with the leadership on 22 May 2026 concluded that the elements of the articles in the Corruption Eradication Law had not been fulfilled for this case. For the sake of legal certainty, we agreed to discontinue the case,” Abun said. The case originated from the Bandung District Prosecutor’s Office Head’s Investigation Order Number Print-4215/M.2.10/Fd.2/10/2025 dated 27 October 2025. During the investigation, the team examined 89 witnesses and three experts, and collected documentary and electronic evidence before naming Erwin and Rendiana Awangga as suspects on 9 December 2025. During the course of the case, the suspects had filed a pre-trial motion at the Bandung District Court, but it failed. Abun stated that the discontinuation of the case was not influenced by political factors or pressure from any party. With the discontinuation of the investigation, the suspect status of Erwin and Rendiana Awangga has ended. “With this discontinuation, the suspect status for both individuals is nullified. From the outset, we indeed did not revoke their rights as deputy mayor or council member,” Abun said. However, he noted that the Bandung Prosecutor’s Office stated the case could be reopened if new witnesses or evidence are found at a later date. “This investigation termination order is not final; it can be reopened later. For the sake of legal certainty, that is why we discontinued it,” Abun said.