12 police officers fired for drug theft and desertion in Lampung

Oyos Saroso, Bandarlampung

Lampung Police fired 12 low-ranking officers for drug theft, burglary and desertion, according to a senior police officer in Bandarlampung, the capital of Lampung province.

Lampung provincial police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Hariyadi Wibowo said on Wednesday that the decree to fire the officers was signed on Tuesday night by Lampung provincial police chief Brig. Gen. M.D. Primanto.

"The decree was issued after Primanto received a copy of a verdict by a police tribunal that the 12 officers were found guilty of stealing drugs and neglecting their duty," said Hariyadi.

The police tribunal began on Monday and the verdict was delivered on Tuesday.

Hariyadi continued that of the 12, seven were convicted of stealing drugs, while the remaining five were found guilty of desertion. The ranks of the 12 police personnel ranged from second to first brigadier.

The drug theft occurred at the end of May, according to Hariyadi. The theft was discovered by a policeman in the Central Lampung police precinct, when he noticed small amounts of marijuana strewn about the evidence room.

Two officers from the precinct were questioned after the discovery, which led to the investigation of five more officers. The seven were then taken to a police tribunal to face justice.

With regard to the five other officers convicted for desertion, Hariyadi said that they were brought before a police tribunal after they had not turned up for duty for periods ranging from 14 to 51 working days since May.