Mapparesa grounded for two years<\/p>\n
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Former Banyumas police chief Sr. Coms. Andi Mapparesa was demoted
\nto a paperwork job for two years on Tuesday for violating the
\npolice's code of ethics to stay impartial in the election.<\/p>\n
The seven-member Honorary Police Committee hearing Mapparesa's
\ncase, however, cleared him of more serious charges that he worked
\nto pervert the course of the presidential poll.<\/p>\n
Mapparesa, the former police chief of Banyumas, Central Java,
\nwas brought to the Police's Honorary Committee for suggesting to
\nfamily members of police and retired police personnel to vote for
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri in the July 5 presidential election.<\/p>\n
The \"VCD case\", so-called because Mapparesa was caught on a
\nrecorded video compact disk making the comments, caused many to
\nquestion the police's neutrality in the elections. The Election
\nSupervisory Committee (Panwaslu) suggested Mapparesa had violated
\nthe country's Constitution.<\/p>\n
Police leadership then set up the committee to investigate the
\ncase and police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar suspended Mapparesa from
\nactive duty.<\/p>\n
During the one-month hearing, Mapparesa admitted to violating
\nthe police's code of ethics regarding the elections.<\/p>\n
The committee ruled on Tuesday Mapparesa be banned from
\nholding a position at any police precinct across the country for
\ntwo years. During that period he would work as a staff member in
\nthe human resources division at the National Police Headquarters,
\nthey said.<\/p>\n
Comr. Gen. Binarto, who chaired the commission, said Mapparesa
\nhad violated Article 9 of Police Chief Decree No. 32\/2003 on the
\npolice code of conduct and ethics.<\/p>\n
The administrative punishment, however, was the lightest
\npenalty for personnel violating the police code of conduct. Other
\npunishments could include firing, demotion or prosecution by the
\nstate court.<\/p>\n
National Police Spokesman Insp. Gen. Paiman said after the
\nhearing on Tuesday the commission considered Mapparesa had only
\nacted on his own behalf as an individual, and was not
\nrepresenting the police. It was clear from the VCD recording
\nMapparesa was wearing his police uniform during the May 29
\nmeeting.<\/p>\n
\"The punishment is already heavy enough, considering that the
\nsanction has halted his career for two years. As an officer with
\npotential, the decision is a severe blow to him,\" Paiman said.<\/p>\n
Alleged police partiality in the polls has also been reported
\nin Yogyakarta and Medan, North Sumatra. In Yogyakarta, dozens of
\nT-shirts bearing the faces of presidential candidate Megawati and
\nrunning mate Hasyim Muzadi were found at the Yogyakarta City
\nPolice office, while in Medan, police officers called a meeting
\nwith student activists and allegedly told them to endorse
\nMegawati. In both cases, Panwaslu cleared police of partiality
\ncharges.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, several religious leaders representing
\nMuhammadiyah, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the Indonesian Communion of
\nChurches (PGI) and the Indonesian Bishops Conference (KWI) went
\nto Police Headquarters Tuesday to urge police to stay neutral in
\nelections.<\/p>\n
\"We come here to ask for a guarantee from police that the
\nupcoming Sept. 20 election is secured and that police stay
\nimpartial,\" said Natan Setiabudi of PGI after a meeting with
\nDa'i.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mapparesa-grounded-for-two-years-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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