Police council to unveil officers' probe results

JAKARTA (JP): The Honorary Council of Police Officers (DKP) will announce either on Monday or Tuesday a final report on its investigation over eight middle-ranking officers, who are alleged to have violated the police code of ethics, a police official announced.

National Police Spokesman Sr. Comr Didi Widayadi said on Saturday that the eight officers were Alfons Leomau, Badaruzaman Haidir, Banjarnahor, Solihin, Herman Kotto, Nurdin Umar, Parlindungan Sinaga and Bambang Widodo.

He said that they had presented their arguments to the DKP last Thursday at Police Mobile Brigade Headquarters.

He was quoted by Antara as saying that the DKP was only an internal honorary board of police, which was aimed at preserving the police's code of ethic and not for staging a civilian or military court.

The eight middle-ranking officers organized a meeting and a media conference in July to support the appointment of Gen. Chairuddin as deputy chief of the National Police by former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid.

Abdurrahman wanted to appoint Chairuddin to ensure that the police would support his plan to issue a decree on state of emergency as the National Police chief, Gen. Bimantoro had refused.

Abdurrahman fired Bimantoro, but the police general rejected the former president's decision.

Speaking on the sidelines of a ceremony celebrating the 53rd anniversary of women police, Didi said that the final report would be considered by National Police Chief Bimantoro to decide whether the eight officers were justified in their behavior.

He also said that the names of candidates to replace Bimantoro, who is due to retire in the near future, had been filed at the so-called police board of promotion and rotation.