No legal action on defiant policemen

Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Jakarta Police discharged two police officers, Adj. Comr. Deni Riswana and First Insp. Puji Waskito, on Monday in the first case this year. However, no legal action will be taken.

Deni, an officer with the city police narcotics division, was discharged from the force after he was found guilty of taking a bribe from a suspected drug dealer last August. He arrested the suspect without a warrant or his superior's knowledge. He then demanded some money from the suspect for his release.

A urine test result proved that Deni had also consumed shabu- shabu (crystal methampethamine).

As for Puji, an officer with the city police personnel division, he was discharged after being absent without leave for more than three months.

The ceremony was led by the city police deputy chief Brig. Gen. Nanan Sukarna. Deni did not attend the ceremony at the Jakarta Police Headquarters, claiming he was sick.

Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Prasetyo told reporters after the ceremony that the processing of Deni's dismissal would still go through even though he was absent.

Explaining why no legal action was taken against the two, Prasetyo said that, "the dismissal is our attempt to make them learn their lesson".