More police officers moonlighting
M. Taufiqurrahman and Abdul Khalik , The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A police watchdog blamed the unfinished reform at Jakarta Police headquarters, which affects more than 500 middle-ranking personnel, for an increasing trend in working side jobs, both legal and illegal.
Police Watch director Rashid Lubis said on Friday that since the reform drive was initiated in mid-2002, hundreds of police officers were left without jobs as their departments were disbanded and new posts had yet to be set up.
"These unattached officers have more than enough time to moonlight in side jobs, backed by all their privileges and authority as security officers," Rashid told The Jakarta Post.
Despite growing concern over the idle officers, he said, Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Makbul Padmanagara could do nothing.
"The chief has issued circulars ordering the transfer of idle personnel to other departments, but these were disregarded as only National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar has authority over middle-ranking officers," he said.
Rashid was commenting on the increasing number of criminal cases in which active police personnel were implicated, whether on or off duty.
On Thursday, three policemen were arrested for assaulting the rival of a businessman for whom they worked as guards.
Last Sunday, middle-ranking officer Comr. Puja Laksana was arrested in possession of 900 ecstasy pills, and on Friday, police arrested Puja's accomplice, Kawi, who was believed to be a drug supplier.
Police Watch's latest survey revealed an increasing number of officers involved in robbery, thuggery, gambling and drug trafficking cases. At least 14 drug cases and 90 assault cases in 2003 involved police personnel.
Three years after becoming independent of the Armed Forces (ABRI) -- now the Indonesian Military (TNI) -- the National Police still have tough challenges ahead to rid itself of corruption and the use of violence in dealing with the public.
Separately, University of Indonesia criminologist Adrianus Meliala pointed out that the Jakarta Police still had a number of auxiliary and supporting divisions, the mainspring for unruly moonlighting policemen.
"We all know that divisions such as research and development, health, logistics and forensics have become liabilities to the Jakarta Police, because the staff, who work less hours, are also authorized to use guns and other means of force as detectives."
Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Prasetyo, however, defended moonlighting police, saying that personnel were free to use their off-duty time as they chose, and that there was no sanction against taking on side jobs.
"Some personnel work from nine to five and afterwards they are free to go anywhere they wish. Others have more flexible working hours and they can conduct other activities as long it does not interfere with their main duty as police," he said.