Officers grilled over insubordination

Officers grilled over insubordination

JAKARTA (JP): Police internal affairs and intelligence
continued on Wednesday to grill eight mid-ranking police officers
over insubordination charges.

The officers had allegedly led some 150 middle-ranking police
officers to stage a revolt against National Police Chief Gen.
Surojo Bimantoro on July 9.

"The National Police would like to check the possibility that
these men could have conducted a violation, particularly on the
matter of statements they had recently made to the general
public, about internal conditions in the police," Bimantoro told
reporters.

The officers had declared Bimantoro disobedient and had
demanded that he comply with presidential orders issued by then
president Abdurrahman Wahid to vacate his post.

"At home itself, there are some rules to follow, before
expressing oneself. In any organization or institution rules are
followed before expressing oneself," Bimantoro said smilingly.

Bimantoro on Monday issued an order for the questioning of the
eight defiant officers.

They were identified as Sr. Comr. Bambang Widodo, Sr. Comr.
Parlindungan Sinaga, Sr. Comr. Alfons Leomau, Sr. Comr. Nurdin
Umar, Sr. Comr. Badaruzzaman Haidir, Sr. Comr. Herman Kotto, Sr.
Comr. Banjar Nahor and Sr. Comr. Salihin.

Alfons, the last officer to finally show up at National Police
Headquarters on Wednesday, told reporters that he did not fear
the questioning.

"I believe that this is a lawful country. I wish to prove my
accusers wrong. I want my rights defended," Alfons, accompanied
by lawyers Paska Gianto and Sucimateo, told reporters.

Once investigations into the eight officers are completed, the
results will reportedly be handed to the Officers Honor Council
(DKP), which will decide on the appropriate sanctions that could
be taken against the officers.

Asked if National Police deputy chief Gen. Chaeruddin Ismail
would be given similar treatment to the eight mid-ranking
officers, Bimantoro said: "No... he will just be asked questions
(informally)."

A senior police general, who requested anonymity, told The
Jakarta Post on Wednesday that police were conducting internal
investigations on Chaeruddin. (ylt)