KPRP Recommends Kompolnas Be Empowered to Investigate and Serve as Ethical Judges

The National Police Commission (Kompolnas) is proposed to have stronger authority, including the ability to investigate allegations of ethical code violations by Polri members. Presidential Special Advisor on security, order, and police reform, Ahmad Dofiri, stated that this proposal is one of the recommendations from the Police Reform Acceleration Commission (KPRP). He explained that strengthening Kompolnas is crucial because the institution holds a strategic position in the external oversight system for Polri. Dofiri noted that through this strengthening, Kompolnas will become an independent institution in its own right. “Why Kompolnas is important in the discussions at the Police Reform Acceleration Commission is because Kompolnas has a very strategic position,” he said during a press conference in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, on Wednesday (6/5). He explained that in the recommendations compiled by KPRP, the position and status of Polri remain under the President. Therefore, the external oversight function must be strengthened through Kompolnas. Dofiri said that so far, Kompolnas has primarily played a role in policy formulation and proposing the appointment of the National Police Chief. In the future, strengthening will be carried out in terms of membership, composition, and authority. He mentioned that one of the proposed changes is to eliminate ex-officio elements to increase independence. Dofiri explained that all members will henceforth be selected from civil society. “In the future, it will be strengthened in terms of membership, then secondly regarding the composition of people sitting on Kompolnas, and thirdly related to duties and authority,” he clarified. Dofiri said the most crucial strengthening is that Kompolnas is proposed to have authority for direct oversight up to investigating ethical violations by Polri members. He even mentioned that Kompolnas could also serve as members of the Judges of the Polri Professional Code of Ethics Commission if there is a case of member violations that attracts public attention. “This second one is the most important. It can conduct investigations related to Polri ethical code violations,” he emphasised. “If deemed necessary, if Kompolnas considers the case significant and it receives public attention, to ensure the ethics decision, Kompolnas Commissioners or Members can sit as part of the judges in the Polri Professional Code of Ethics Commission during its hearings,” he added. Furthermore, he said that all recommendations issued by Kompolnas in the future will be binding and no longer mere suggestions. Thus, he said, Polri has an obligation to implement recommendations from Kompolnas. “Recommendations from Kompolnas have executive force. So, when they recommend, it must be implemented. It’s not just a recommendation; it’s oversight,” he explained.