Police officers to face punishment

JAKARTA: The police held a disciplinary hearing for four police officers on Wednesday accused of taking bribes from suspects in the Rp 1.7 trillion (US$188 million) Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) scam in 2003.

The four officers were police fraud squad deputy chief Sr. Comr. Bambang Premantoro, Sr. Comr. Irman Santosa, Sr. Comr. Mashudi and Adj. Sr. Comr. Wirosaleh.

They were charged with acting beyond their authority by giving the Bank fraud suspects, including Adrian Waworuntu, special treatment and receiving bribes in the form of notebook computers and cellular phones.

Chief prosecutor Sr. Comr. Warsito said the five-hour hearing, presided over by police fraud squad chief Brig. Gen. Andi Chaeruddin, heard testimonies from Adrian.

Warsito said the hearing committee was scheduled to announce the sanctions for the four next week.

Earlier, the same committee suspended Brig. Gen. Samuel Ismoko as chief investigator in the BNI graft case for being found guilty of similar charges. --JP