Ciputat police chief free, despite strong allegations
Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Despite multiple extortion allegations, no legal action had been taken against Ciputat Police chief Adj. Comr. Zulfan, who is still still working normally.
Sources at the internal affairs division of the National Police Headquarters and the South Jakarta Police, both of which are dealing with the allegations, claimed on Wednesday there were no immediate plans for an investigation.
"No schedule had yet been drawn up," a police source said.
Meanwhile, Jakarta Police spokesman Comr. Sr. Prasetyo said that tough measures would be taken against police officers, even high-ranking ones, "only if they were proven to have committed crimes".
Zulfan is facing at least two complaints: One was reported directly to the National Police Headquarters; the second was filed with the South Jakarta Police.
The National Police Headquarters received on Jan. 27 a complaint from businessman Barzan Effendy, who claimed that Zulfan demanded Rp 160 million (US$19,048) from him to settle a business dispute in October.
Meanwhile, the internal affairs department of South Jakarta Police received a complaint in late January from Zulfan's subordinate, First Insp. Ahmad Kusnidar, the head of the Ciputat Police traffic unit.
Kusnidar reported that Zulfan pointed a gun at him in an argument at Ciputat police station sometime in January.
The argument involved a fatal accident, in which a truck fatally injured a child. The truck was confiscated and parked at Ciputat police station. Later, the South Jakarta traffic police unit chief ordered Kusnidar to move the truck to the precinct headquarters.
However, Zulfan, who had allegedly received Rp 30 million from the owner who wanted the truck back, stopped Kusnidar from removing it.
A source at South Jakarta Police said that following Kusnidar's complaint, other allegations flowed in against Zulfan.
The source revealed that Zulfan would also be investigated over four extortion incidents involving a total of Rp 98.5 million.
Zulfan has denied all of the allegations.