Observers regret alleged police involvement in crimes<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Observers in the legal and human rights circles
\nexpressed concern on Sunday over some police officers' alleged
\ninvolvement in a series of criminal acts.<\/p>\n
Legal expert Satjipto Rahardjo, criminologist Adrianus Meliala
\nand psychologist Saparinah Sadli said separately that there
\nshould be a systematic resolution for the officers' alleged
\nwrongdoing.<\/p>\n
\"There should be a thorough investigation into the five
\nofficers of the elite Police Mobile Brigade to find out whether
\nthe robbery was merely done as individuals or it has become a
\nsymptom of the force,\" Satjipto, a law professor at Diponegoro
\nUniversity in Semarang, Central Java, told The Jakarta Post in a
\ntelephone interview.<\/p>\n
\"Since they have weapons, it would be dangerous for society if
\nthe officers' wrongdoing was a part of the police force's general
\ncharacteristics,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Satjipto was referring to an armed burglary of a house last
\nThursday morning in Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta, where five
\nbrigade officers were reportedly involved. The five officers,
\npart of a 10-member group, were arrested the following day after
\nallegedly robbing two luxury cars and allegedly killing the
\nhouse's security guard.<\/p>\n
The spokesman of the National Police, Brig. Gen. Erald
\nDotulong, said on Friday that the police force would fire the
\nfive officers, Yusron, Novianto, Suharsono, Miftahul Huda and
\nTatit Dwi, who are all second sergeants. They would also face
\ncourt proceedings, he said.<\/p>\n
Satjipto, also a member of the National Commission on Human
\nRights, said there was an unspoken perception among the police
\nthat they were hired to safeguard rich residents, who have
\nenjoyed the fruit of economic development.<\/p>\n
\"This perspective makes the police compare the wealth of the
\nrich, who they protect, with their economic situation,\" he said,
\nwhile citing a second sergeant in the force is paid Rp 200,000
\n(US$28.50) per month.<\/p>\n
\"The income gap has brought mental complications to the police
\nofficers, with them thinking they have received unfair treatment
\nand they can do anything to get a bigger revenue.\"<\/p>\n
\"The police force's failure to maintain strict control over
\nits members and to increase their wealth will easily lead to an
\nabuse of police duties, and in extreme cases their involvement in
\na robbery,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Satjipto urged the brigade to motivate its members to increase
\nthe force's pride.<\/p>\n
\"If all members of the force are proud of their corps, they
\nwould not do anything bad which would tarnish its good
\nreputation,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Criminologist Adrianus Meliala, however, reminded that people
\nshould not generalize all police officers as bad.<\/p>\n
Adrianus, also a lecturer at the University of Indonesia
\nSchool of Criminology, said a robbery was the most serious abuse
\nof public trust committed by the police.<\/p>\n
\"The abuse of public trust can take any form, such as taking
\nillegal bribes from motorists on the street. But a robbery is the
\nmost serious one,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Adrianus said different divisions within the police force
\nsought additional income through different ways.<\/p>\n
\"Police detectives seek 'cash compensation' from criminals in
\nreturn for their release, while traffic policemen take illegal
\npayoffs from motorists.<\/p>\n
\"Meanwhile, brigade officers don't have a 'target domain',
\ntherefore they might commit a robbery,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He also stressed that not all police officers were bad.<\/p>\n
\"We should apply the principle of 'apples in the basket' when
\nunderstanding the police force. It is impossible that all apples
\nin the basket are good ones. Some would be spoiled,\" he told the
\nPost.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Saparinah Sadli said the robbery only added to
\nfears of insecurity within society.<\/p>\n
\"It is ironic that members of an institution who should
\nsafeguard the public, have become the robbers. Who else should we
\nrely on to safeguard people?\" she asked.<\/p>\n
Saparinah, also a member of the rights commission, demanded
\nthe police restore a feeling of safety within the community.<\/p>\n
\"The police must punish the officers appropriately for their
\ndeeds in a transparent manner,\" she said. (asa)<\/p>",
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