Police reluctant to book Sofjan on criminal charges

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.