Marta‘s Financial Struggles as Husband, Mangapul, Faces Bribery Charges
Marta Panggabean, wife of Mangapul, a judge at Surabaya District Court, has expressed her frustration and financial struggles due to her husband’s involvement in a bribery case. The case centers around the acquittal of Gregorius Ronald Tannur, who was initially charged with the death of his girlfriend, Dini Sera Afrianti.
During her testimony as a witness in the trial of three judges at the Corruption Court in Jakarta, Marta revealed that she has been without her husband’s income since December 2024. She and Mangapul have three children in college, adding to their financial burden.
"I haven’t received my husband’s salary since December," Marta said, tears welling up in her eyes. "Our youngest is still in private school. It’s been so hard, I’m even having to sell my jewelry to make ends meet."
Marta’s frustration is understandable, given the circumstances. The family’s finances have been significantly impacted by her husband’s legal troubles. She has been seeking help from her sister-in-law to cover daily expenses and has been selling jewelry to support her children’s education.
The trial of the three judges involved in the Tannur case began in January 2025. The judges—Erintuah Damanik, Heru Hanindyo, and Mangapul—stand accused of accepting a Rp 1 billion (approximately USD 70,000) bribe and SGD 308,000 (approximately Rp 3.6 billion) to acquit Tannur.
The case’s roots trace back to Tannur’s acquittal in 2024. Tannur’s mother, Meirizka Widjaja, had hired a lawyer named Lisa Rahmat to help secure his freedom. Rahmat then contacted a former official, Zarof Ricar, to find a judge who could be swayed to acquit Tannur. The bribe was subsequently paid, and Tannur was acquitted. The case was later retried, and Tannur was sentenced to 5 years in prison.
As the trial unfolds, Marta awaits the verdict, hoping for some resolution to her family’s financial crisis.
