Airport police chief fired for extortion

Airport police chief fired for extortion

TANGERANG (JP): The Soekarno-Hatta International Airport
police subprecinct chief has been fired for allegedly extorting
money from two foreign passengers suspected to be smugglers,
raising the number of senior officer dismissals in Tangerang to
three over the last two years.

Capt. T. Silitonga, who had recently been assigned to hold the
position a few months ago, was believed to have violated police
regulations when dealing with the two suspects.

During the investigation, the two suspects said that Silitonga
had beaten and forced them to give him a certain amount of money
to drop their smuggling case.

Following the statements, Silitonga was summoned by the city
police internal affairs office. But before the city police issued
the result of the investigation, Silitonga was fired.

Tangerang Police precinct chief, Lt. Col. Aryanto Boedihardjo,
installed Capt. Titi Valentine from the East Jakarta Police
Precinct to replace Silironga on Wednesday.

Aryanto, however, declined to comment on the case, saying that
he had no right to make any statements.

"Just ask the city police chief. We're not supposed to give
any information," his subordinates said yesterday.

Last year, two police subprecinct chiefs in the Tangerang area
also were dismissed for misconduct.

Serpong Police subprecinct chief, Capt. Unggul, was fired from
his position after he was proven guilty of extorting money from a
leader in the area's gambling industry, who had been arrested by
his officers.

First Lieutenant Chaniago was dismissed because he was
believed to have conducted a "principal misdeed" toward the
public.

Head of the Tangerang Police detective Capt. Ade Sutiana was
dismissed from his post and arrested for alleged negligence over
the escape of a former television star Zarina, who was
apprehended for allegedly possessing a large number of Ecstasy
pills.

City police spokesman, Lt. Col. E. Aritonang, said that such
dismissals were common in the police department.

"It's just a matter of rewarding or punishing our officers
based on their conduct. If officers show indications of
procedural mistakes in their duties, then whoever they are, they
will be summoned by police internal affairs for questioning."

Aritonang said officers would have to take responsibility if
proven guilty of misconduct.

"Punishments can range from an administrative punishment to
dismissal," Aritonang said.

He, however, strongly suggested reporters to wait until the
city police internal affairs division issued the results of their
investigation on Silitonga.

"The investigation is underway. Just wait," he said.
(41/04/cst)