Harassment questioning continues

Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post/Bogor

Internal affairs officers from the West Java Police are continuing their investigation into a sexual harassment complaint against Bogor Police chief Sr. Comr. Tjiptono and several of his subordinates.

"Please, do not jump to conclusions and accuse the Bogor Police chief of (committing the crime). We are still investigating," West Java Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Muryan Faisal told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

The case surfaced after a text message accusing Tjiptono of sexually harassing his secretaries began circulating among residents in Bogor, including journalists and police officers.

"Only if this allegation is proven to be true will the police chief be taken in for questioning," Muryan said.

One of Tjiptono's secretaries, Chief Brig. Ety Rosita, has denied ever being sexually harassed by Tjiptono.

"It is not true. I have only been his secretary for two weeks, but he never treated me like that. Mean rumors like that could destroy my reputation and my family," she said, adding that her husband works at National Police Headquarters.

Tjiptono, a former spokesman for the Jakarta Police, was installed as Bogor Police chief last month, replacing Sr. Comr. Bambang Wasgito, who was removed from the post after assaulting several of his subordinates.