Police shrug off corruption report<\/p>\n
Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The National Police have shrugged off a report that declares
\nit to be the second most corrupt institution in the country,
\nsaying the accusation was without foundation.<\/p>\n
Director of the Special Economic Crime unit Brig. Gen. Andi
\nChaeruddin said that he could not respond to the results of the
\nsurvey because there was no hard evidence to support the claims.<\/p>\n
"If someone comes in and gives us a report, bringing along
\nnecessary evidence and several witnesses, as determined in the
\nCriminal Code (KUHAP), then we can start investigating," Andi
\ntold The Jakarta Post over the weekend.<\/p>\n
"Without any evidence or testimonials from witnesses -- and
\nthere must be more than one witness -- then why waste our time
\nwith something so obscure?" Andi added.<\/p>\n
Transparency International Indonesia (TII) last week unveiled
\nthe results of its latest corruption survey, which named the
\npolice as the second most corrupt institution in the country
\nafter the customs office.<\/p>\n
Survey respondents said they had to pay bribes to the police
\napproximately 12 times a year, with the average amount paid each
\ntime being Rp 1.71 million (US$185).<\/p>\n
The result of the TII survey is in line with earlier research
\nconducted last year by some 147 Police Academy students. The
\nsurvey, which took place in 19 regions across the country, found
\nthat corruption is deeply rooted within the institution.<\/p>\n
Many examples of corruption were given in the research report
\nincluding the "buying and selling" of top positions and ranks in
\nthe police, bribery in the recruitment of new officers, and
\ncorruption in the distribution of supplies and police budgetary
\nfunds.<\/p>\n
Other forms of very common corrupt practices committed by
\npolice officers included demanding bribes from motorists
\nviolating traffic regulations, extorting money from people
\nobtaining driving licenses, and demanding "protection money" from
\nbusiness people.<\/p>\n
In early February this year, the Internal Affairs division at
\nNational Police headquarters discovered that officers from the
\nWest Jakarta police refused to detain an owner of a gambling den
\nduring a raid because the owner had already paid amounts of money
\nto these officers.<\/p>\n
According to sources, the owner of the gambling den had
\nregularly paid some Rp 3 billion to the West Jakarta police, the
\nJakarta police and the National Police every month in order to
\nprotect the illegal operation.<\/p>\n
Separately, Director of the Corruption Crime unit Brig.
\nIndarto said that he would wait for instructions from the chief
\nof the National Police before following-up on issues raised in
\nthe TII report.<\/p>\n
"If Pak Da'i gives the instruction for me to investigate the
\ncase (the TII report) then I will carry it out immediately,"
\nIndarto told The Post, referring to National Police Chief Da'i
\nBachtiar.<\/p>\n
Indarto said that so far none of his superiors had given him
\ninstructions, thus, he could not start investigations.<\/p>\n
"Even if the chief has given an order, the internal affairs
\nunit must investigate first, to see if there are any police
\nofficers who have violated the police code of ethics.<\/p>\n
"If the unit finds that there is a criminal element in the
\ncase, then Internal Affairs will hand us the case and we'll
\ncontinue it from there, just as in Pak Ismoko's case," Indarto
\nadded.<\/p>\n
Brig. Gen. Samuel Ismoko was found guilty by a police
\ndisciplinary hearing for committing "undisciplined" acts during
\nthe investigation of the Rp 1.7 trillion Bank Negara Indonesia
\n(BNI) scam case.<\/p>\n
Ismoko is now scheduled to appear in court for allegedly
\nreceiving $20,000 and Rp 500 million in bribes from the main
\nsuspect in the case, Adrian Waworuntu.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-shrug-off-corruption-report-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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