Ismoko cleared of bribe, gets new job

Ismoko cleared of bribe, gets new job

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Director of the police's fraud squad Brig. Gen. Samuel Ismoko was
removed from his post on Thursday, following media reports that
he had received a bribe worth US$20,000 (Rp 180 million) from
fugitive Adrian Waworuntu.

National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Paiman said Ismoko would
swap positions with Brig. Gen. Andi Chaeruddin, chief of
operations at the police headquarters.

He, however, denied that the replacement was related to the
escape of Adrian, a key suspect in the Rp 1.7 trillion Bank
Negara Indonesia (BNI) scandal.

Press reports had earlier said that Ismoko, head of the team
handling Adrian's corruption case, had received an "allowance" of
$20,000 from the suspect, who is believed to be in Singapore.

Indonesia has no extradition treaty with Singapore.

"Based on the investigation of the police's internal affairs
division, it is not proven that Ismoko accepted a bribe from
Adrian. So, the rotation has nothing to do with the allegation,
this is just a usual tour of duty," Paiman said.

A source at the police headquarters said that the rotation was
part of efforts to deflect the mounting attack on the police,
following Adrian's escape.

"We are under pressure because of media reports in the last
few weeks on Adrian's escape. We hope that the rotation will ease
the pressure," said the source.

Adrian managed to sneak out of the country and fled to the
United States despite the travel ban imposed on him, raising
suspicions that high-ranking officers were involved in his
escape.

Several media outlets quoted one of the suspects in the case
-- Rudy Sutopo, Petindo Group's director -- as saying that Ismoko
had received at least $20,000 from Adrian, a director of
Gramarindo, one of the companies that received BNI funds.

Rudy, who is awaiting trial at Cipinang prison in East
Jakarta, said Adrian had borrowed money from him to add to his
"allowance" for Ismoko on an official trip to Thailand.

He added that all fraud squad investigators had received
between Rp 25 million and Rp 50 million according to their rank.

Police had earlier interrogated over 30 officers over bribery
allegations but later cleared them, saying that they had
committed administrative violations only.

Adrian said in an interview with a TV station that he would
turn himself in after Oct. 20. So far, there is sign of his
return to Jakarta.