Former Jakarta Police chief dies

JAKARTA: Disgraced former Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. (ret) Hamami Nata died from respiratory problems at the age of 57 at the Pertamina Hospital in Kebayoran, South Jakarta, on Thursday.

Hamami had been in the hospital's intensive care unit for the last four days.

Hamami was the only police officer to resign following his failure to prevent the bloody May riots in Jakarta in 1998, which led to the down fall of former president Soeharto. Hundreds of people were murdered or raped during the rioting and looting.

Hamami graduated from the Police Academy in 1970 at the same time as former Jakarta Police chief Gen. Bimantoro.

During Soeharto's era, Hamami served as the assistant to the president.

Before his death, Hamami served as an advisor to the National Police chief.

Later on Thursday Hamami was buried at Tanah Kusir Cemetery in South Jakarta.--JP