City Police dishonorably discharge seven junior officers

Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The newly installed Jakarta Police chief, Insp. Gen. Firman Gani, dismissed seven low-ranking officers during a ceremony on Monday, the first mass dishonorable discharge ceremony this year.

The police chief's orders for the dismissals were issued on Oct. 5.

Spokesman Sr. Comr. Tjiptono revealed that five of the seven were dismissed from the force for involvement in extortion and "arresting" suspects without warrants.

The five were now serving time in various prisons for violating Article 368 of the Criminal Code on extortion and Article 126 of the Military Justice Code on acting in contravention of procedures.

The five were identified as First Brig. Muharyanto from the North Jakarta Police, First Brig. Indra Utama the from Jakarta Traffic Police, Second Brig. Dedi Asnadi from the South Jakarta Police, First Brig. Efriliziar from the Central Jakarta Police and First Brig. Fauzi from Jakarta Police Headquarters Detachment.

First Brig. Agus Pranoto Karya from the South Jakarta Police was dismissed for possessing an unlicensed firearm, while Second Brig. Bernard Yunior Sapulete from the North Jakarta Police was dismissed for drug abuse.

During the discharge ceremony, the dismissed officers handed over their police uniforms and badges, and chang into civilian clothing.

The police dismissed 80 low-ranking officers in 2003.

"The ceremony shows that we are committed to a better police force, and that every violation conducted by police officers will be punished," Tjiptono said.

As regards sanctions against police officers, the internal affairs department have a range of options ranging from dismissal without a pension to demotion.