204 errant police officers dismissed

JAKARTA (JP): City Police chief Insp. Gen. Sofjan Yacob said on Wednesday that he had signed the dismissal papers of 204 unruly city police officers.

"I have signed the papers already... they are dismissed. I have to be tough on my own men to set a good example. These men were charged with polygamy, desertion, drug-related crimes and other unruly acts," Sofjan told reporters on Wednesday.

"It is a real shame. We spent our time to educate these men and give them special police training. Nothing seemed to have worked on them. Police dossiers on these men are in the process of being completed."

Sofjan added that the men had received special police training for the past six months, before they were put in active police duty.

He said that the dossiers of these men would be processed according to existing police regulations and hopefully they would be brought before a court.

Earlier, city police stripped seven other police officers of their badges and uniforms, officially dismissing them on charges of polygamy, adultery, desertion, and car theft.

"Should policemen continue to engage in criminal activities, we will not think twice about dismissing them," City Police deputy chief Brig. Gen. Makbul Padmanagara earlier told reporters. (ylt)