Depok Police chief replaced amid escalating tension
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
In an abrupt move amid escalating tension over a court ruling overturning the results of the Depok mayoral election, the Jakarta Police on Thursday replaced Depok Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Ratnawati Hadiwidjaja, the only female police district chief.
Ratnawati, who had held the post for less than four months, handed over the reins to former Soekarno-Hatta International Airport Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Firman Shantya Budi during a ceremony held on Thursday afternoon.
She will take up a new post as operations monitoring chief at Jakarta Police Headquarters.
"We can see that the security threats in Depok are increasing, and we need an officer who can handle them. Besides, we also need internal reorganization," Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani said.
Ratnawati moved from her post as East Jakarta Police deputy chief to become Depok Police chief on April 27, replacing Adj. Sr. Comr. Raja Erisman, who was appointed Tangerang Police chief.
Several policewomen have risen to ranks as high or higher than Ratnawati's, but she is the first woman ever to head a district.
The tense situation in Depok revolves around the West Java High Court's ruling in favor of former mayor Badrul Kamal, who had previously been declared the runner-up to Nur Mahmudi Ismail in the poll by the local elections commission.
Supporters of the two candidates are now appealing to different government institutions to make a final ruling on the issue.
Rumors, however, are circulating that Ratnawati has been replaced because she had uncovered a bribery scandal related to the Depok poll involving a high-ranking officer at Jakarta Police Headquarters.
Besides Ratnawati and Firman Shantya, six other mid-ranking officers have also been transferred.
Adj. Sr. Comr. Tejo Subagio has replaced Firman Shantya as airport police chief while former Tangerang deputy chief Adj. Comr. Aan Suhanan has taken over from Tejo as operations development chief at headquarters.
Meanwhile, Adj. Sr. Comr. Frederik Kalalembang has filled the post left vacant by Aan.