Former Deputy Police Chief Admits Special Quota for Paid Entry into Police Force: To Be Abolished

Jakarta - Retired General Ahmad Dofiri, Presidential Special Advisor on Security, Public Order, and Police Reform, has acknowledged the existence of a “special quota” that enables individuals to pay for positions within the Indonesian National Police (Polri) during recruitment. Dofiri, who previously served as Deputy Chief of Police, stated that this special quota will be abolished. “Yes, that’s why in relation to that, the recommendation is in the managerial aspect earlier. For recruitment, for example, the special quota is now to be eliminated,” Dofiri said when met at the Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday (5/5/2026). “Furthermore, it must now involve multiple actors; the committee should not only be from internal Polri but also from outside Polri. It will be more rigid like that,” he added. Previously, Mahfud MD, a member of the Police Reform Acceleration Commission, stated that ensuring transparent Police Academy (Akpol) recruitment without any sponsored placements is one of the commission’s key recommendations. “The only thing that can already be announced is one: Akpol recruitment must not have any placements from anyone,” said Mahfud MD after attending the launch of Jimly Asshiddiqie’s book in Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday (21/4/2026). He added that Polri has already announced that the 2026 Akpol recruitment will proceed without any sponsored routes. “Polri has announced that starting this year, there are no placements. If anyone claims to have influence to get accepted, that’s all lies, so ignore it. We’ll see the outcome of this year’s recruitment,” he said.