Open police trial seen as positive step
Evi Mariani, Jakarta
A transparent procedure carried out by the National Police recently in examining officers who allegedly violated the police ethics code has been praised as a positive step to enhance the force's performance, amid criticism that the police have been acting inconsistently.
"An open trial such as this for ethics violations is a positive measure. I hope the police will be more open and prudent in discharging their responsibilities more professionally," criminologist from the University of Indonesia Erlangga Masdiana told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
Earlier this month, the Jakarta Police tried nine police officers, three of them middle-ranking, in an open trial, for violating the police ethics code. It was the first open trial carried out by the city police since their reform in 2002.
The officers were accused of tarnishing the police's professional image because of their involvement in a "candid camera" show. In the show, two officers were seen yelling at a university student, Piko, and also ordered him to take off his shirt and pants.
Acting as judges were high-ranking police officers on the Police Ethics Council; they gave recommendations to city police chief Insp. Gen. Makbul Padmanagara, who had the prerogative to decide the final verdict. Makbul did not follow the recommendation to dismiss First Insp. Soenarjo but transferred him to the city police headquarters without giving him a permanent position.
The open trial enabled other police officers and the media to witness the whole process and the audience could assess the fairness of the council's recommendations.
City police spokesman Sr. Comr. Prasetyo said that such a procedure would be used for any officer accused of violating the ethics code in future.
"If an officer violates the Criminal Code, he or she will be tried in a district court, just like other civilians," he added.
Law No.2/2002 on the National Police stipulates that police officers who violate the Criminal Code be considered civilians.
However, critics have said that the National Police have been inconsistent in upholding the law. They refer to the way in which the case of former Ciputat Police chief Adj. Comr. Zulfan Sik was dealt with, as an example.
In early February, Zulfan was suspected of extorting some businessmen in Ciputat, South Jakarta. Instead of being investigated as an ordinary civilian by the crimes division, as stipulated in the law, Zulfan was questioned by the National Police internal affairs division.
The end result was that Zulfan was found not guilty. However, he was transferred to the city police headquarters personnel division.
National Police deputy spokesman Brig. Gen. Soenarko said the move was just routine.
Erlangga said the police should be more transparent in investigating their own officers.
"If the police try to conceal the investigation process, victims of crime allegedly committed by police officers should file further complaints to push for transparency in the way such officers are dealt with," he said.