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.