Police officer demoted over wrongful shooting

Ruslan Sangadji, Palu

Comr. Rickly Naldo, the former operational chief for the Palu Police in Central Sulawesi, was demoted on Wednesday over a wrongful shooting by officers under his command.

Ricky has been transferred to Central Sulawesi Police Headquarters with no position, according to a top police officer.

Central Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. Taufik Ridha said provincial police investigators had also detained two officers from the Palu Police over the wrongful shooting. They were identified as Brig. Mks and Brig. Ms.

The officers are being detained at the Central Sulawesi Police Headquarters and are being questioned by officers from the Professional and Security Division (Propam).

According to the head of Propam, Sr. Comr. Masru Turbo, the two officers will be sentenced if there is sufficient evidence to prove their involvement in the wrongful shooting.

Ricky was leading a group of officers searching for suspects in the murder of minister Susianty Tinulele, who was shot and killed last month while delivering a sermon at the Effata church in South Palu.

One of the suspects, Bambang, reported that during the process of his arrest, officers from Ricky's team assaulted him and shot him in the buttock.

During subsequent police questioning, Bambang provided investigators proof that he was working in Betua subdistrict at the time of the church shooting.