Police reluctant to book Sofjan on criminal charges

Yogita Tahilramani, and Jupriadi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The National Police Headquarters charged former Jakarta Police chief Comr. Gen. Sofjan Jacoeb on Friday only with violating internal rules for issuing temporary vehicle documents for allegedly smuggled luxury cars.

Sofjan, who is embroiled in a legal dispute with National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar over the police's mandatory retirement age, will receive disciplinary measures, including a strong reprimand, if convicted, National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Saleh Saaf told The Jakarta Post.

"He is a suspect, not on charges of smuggling yet, but for violating a National Police chief's circular on the matter of issuing temporary vehicle documents," Saleh said.

Sofjan told a team of police investigators on Thursday that he had issued temporary vehicle documents for 11 Mercedes Benzes allegedly smuggled from Singapore at the end and after his term as South Sulawesi Police chief in May last year. Chief investigator Comr. Gen. Ahwil Luthan, however, refused to divulge Sofjan's reasons for issuing the documents.

Every provincial police chief is allowed to issue temporary vehicle documents for a maximum of three cars, which are valid for up to three months.

The investigation is unprecedented, considering the fact that there are a handful of criminal cases directly involving police top brass.

Speculation has been rife that Sofjan's case has more to do with his legal dispute with Da'i, who issued a decree on the retirement of Sofjan and other officers aged 55 years old and over, despite the fact that Police Law No. 2/2002 extends the mandatory retirement age to 58.

Ahwil, who is the National Police inspector-general, added that Sofjan could be summoned for further informal questioning over the matter.

Police detectives are also on the lookout for a luxury car importer who reportedly keeps close ties with Sofjan. Ahwil said the businessman, identified only as A., was a licensed importer based in Jakarta.

In Makassar, South Sulawesi Police chief Maj. Gen. Firman Gani suggested that the provincial legislature reconsider its plans to grill Sofjan over the matter, saying that it was handled by the National Police.

Firman said four of the provincial police members, including a traffic directorate officer and the adjutant to Sofjan when he was in office there, were questioned as witnesses in connection with the case.