Police detain 30 officers over various criminal cases

JAKARTA (JP): There are currently 30 police officers, with ranks ranging from captain to second sergeant, detained in city police internal affair's cells, in connection with criminal cases that include murder, blackmail, violence, robbery and car theft.

So said chief of city police internal affairs Lt. Col. Mustofa said on Tuesday, adding that the officers's dossiers were being prepared by the internal affairs unit, before being handed over to the Military Police.

"Judging from the way this year has started, there will probably be a huge increase this year in the number of police officers being caught," Mustofa told The Jakarta Post and Kompas daily at the city police headquarters.

"The year 2000 has just begun, and already we have 30 police officers waiting in line."

Mustofa said that by way of comparison, dossiers of 73 police officers were handed over to the Military Police in 1997, 45 officers in 1998, and only 49 last year.

He added though that the dossiers of some of the 30 officers being processed this January were concerning crimes committed from October last year.

"Still, it's an increase. Nevertheless, I urge city residents to contact city police internal affairs if they are caught in a jam with bad or corrupt police officers," Mustofa said.

"If an officer, for instance, has blackmailed you into paying him for a traffic offense, contact us on our 24-hour hotline, (021) 523-4257. Or, you could come here and lodge the complaint personally. Secrecy will be guaranteed, and we will process the matter."

The most recent cases include those of Police Mobile Brigade unit (Brimob) officer First Sgt. Ajat Sudrajat, who allegedly killed a businessman in Tangerang; a blackmail case involving First Sgt. Muhartoyo; and car thefts connected to two Ciputat Police officers.

Tangerang Police detectives arrested Ajat, along with two civilians, Budi and Endang Jaya Sumitra, over the murder of Daniel Aba, a house broker who was found dead at 9 a.m. on Sunday on Jl. Oliander in Bumi Serpong Damai housing complex.

The suspects were pretending to buy the victim's home. It is alleged they were trying to steal the victim's Isuzu Panther van.

Police say Endang fatally stabbed Daniel in his neck and chest, after which Ajat dragged the corpse into the bathroom. He then took Rp 48,000 from the victim's wallet. Police arrested Ajat and Endang on the same day, while Budi was arrested on Monday afternoon.

City police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman said on Tuesday that he had strongly recommended the National Police headquarters to dishonorably discharge Ajat for his crime.

Mustofa said Ajat has attempted to desert four times since his first car theft case in 1992.

"The process first went for a month, then extended to 27 months, then 15 months and then 118 days. A few weeks ago, if I'm not mistaken, he broke free from the Brimob detention center via the ceiling ... he killed Daniel and was immediately caught again."

In another case, I Gusti Ketut Putra, an adjutant of National Military Police chief Maj. Gen. Djasrie Marin, allegedly shot dead traffic police officer, First Sgt. Fikri Zakaria, outside the Seribu Satu restaurant in North Jakarta early this month over a drug bust. Gusti was allegedly trying to cover up the case while Fikri was allegedly blackmailing Gusti over it.

Fikri was accompanied by his friend First. Sgt. Muhartoyo, who, it is alleged, were also blackmailing Gusti Ketut's friends.

Separately, South Jakarta Police detectives recently arrested two active police officers, First Sgt. Agus Pranoto of the Ciputat Police patrol unit and Sgt. Maj. Yudhi of Ciputat traffic police, for among other things, allegedly being involved in the theft of a red Suzuki van.

Meanwhile, internal affairs are still questioning three officers from the city police detectives over the blackmailing of a Tangerang businessman and a car theft. (ylt)