Outrage as Police Officer Convicted of Rape Actively Serves Again; Jambi Police Explain
The Jambi Regional Police have clarified the active duty status of a middle-ranking officer with the initials RC after he served a sentence related to a rape case that has recently drawn public attention and discussion. According to the Head of Public Relations for the Jambi Regional Police, Senior Commissioner Erlan Munaji, RC’s return to active service is a legal consequence of the verdict from the Police Code of Ethics Commission hearing, which has had permanent legal force since 2015. Although it has become a subject of public discussion, he said his party respects and openly accepts all attention, criticism, and public aspirations regarding the matter as a form of oversight of the National Police institution. He stated that RC is currently serving within the Jambi Regional Police and is assigned to the General Planning and Budget Bureau.
Regarding the criminal case that once ensnared the individual while serving at the South Kalimantan Regional Police, RC was involved in a criminal act as referred to in Article 286 of the Criminal Code. In 2008, the Banjarmasin District Court acquitted RC of the charges brought against him. However, the Public Prosecutor subsequently filed an appeal to the Supreme Court in 2009. In its cassation ruling, the Supreme Court overturned the first-level court’s decision and sentenced RC to four years in prison because he was legally and convincingly proven guilty. Furthermore, an application for judicial review filed by RC in 2010 was rejected by the Supreme Court, making the cassation decision legally binding.
Senior Commissioner Erlan explained that on 21 July 2022, the South Kalimantan Public Prosecutor sent a letter to the Jambi Police Chief requesting assistance in executing the sentence against RC. The individual subsequently served his prison term at the Class II Jambi Penitentiary for 1 year and 10 months. He is currently on conditional release based on a 2024 decision from the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, with a probation period ending on 26 July 2026. Regarding the professional code of ethics aspect of the National Police, he explained that a Police Code of Ethics Commission hearing was conducted for RC in 2015. In its verdict, the violator’s behaviour was declared a disgraceful act and a recommendation sanction was imposed in the form of a demotional transfer for at least one year.