Jakarta crime investigation office gets new chief

JAKARTA (JP): City Police Chief Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata yesterday installed Col. Paimin Aboeamar as head of the Jakarta Crime Investigation Directorate, replacing Col. Adang Rismanto.

Adang, who holds an MBA degree, held one of the most important posts at the national police headquarters for the shortest time ever -- only two and a half months.

He has been appointed head of the Chemical & Biology Forensic Department of the National Police, replacing Col. Erwin MAP, who will be installed as the new Bandung police chief in West Java.

Yesterday's replacement has given rise to questions in national police circles because it was the first time that a senior officer has been removed after only two and a half months in a position.

"Nobody knows what's behind the sudden replacement of Adang," one senior police officer said.

Before being installed as boss of the Jakarta police detectives on Feb. 15, Adang was the Semarang police chief in Central Java.

Adang's successor, Paimin, is a former senior lecturer at the School for Police Staff and Senior Officers in Lembang, West Java.

Paimin, 47, was once head of the crime investigation unit in Medan, North Sumatra, and Irian Jaya.

Before his speech, Chief Hamami told participants in the installation ceremony that it was the first time he had ever installed a new officer under his supervision that he did not know and had never met before.

The replacement is based on a decree issued by the new National Police Chief Gen. Dibyo Widodo, who took over the top national police post over a month ago.

Police sources revealed that more reshuffling will take place in the Jakarta Police headquarters in the next few weeks, following the installation of Paimin.

In his speech, Hamami ordered Paimin to prepare everything needed to ensure the success of the 1997 election. He also asked the newly installed officer to handle a number of serious crimes in the city which have yet to be solved.

Meanwhile National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Nurfaizi confirmed that the police chiefs of Bekasi and North, West and Central Jakarta will be replaced soon.

Bekasi Police Chief Lt. Col. Elfrizo Tobing will be appointed as head of the east Surabaya police force in East Java. He will be replaced by Lt. Col. Alex Bambang Riatmodjo, currently head of the Surabaya police detectives.

North Jakarta Police Chief Lt. Col. Abubakar Nataprawira will be appointed as the new chief of the Central Jakarta police, replacing Lt. Col. S.Y. Wenas, who will be promoted to be a colonel for his new job as chief of East Timor police.

Abubakar will be replaced by Lt. Col. Muhamad Ibrahim, currently head of the Police School in Lido, West Java.

West Jakarta Police Chief Lt. Col. Hari Pribadi will be appointed as secretary of the North Sumatra Crime Investigation Directorate. Hari will be replaced by Lt. Col. Andi Chairuddin, currently chief of the Buleleng police on the resort island of Bali. (bsr)