Police win case against President

JAKARTA: Former Jakarta Police chief Com. Gen. Nugroho Djayusman and six other police officers have won a court case against President Megawati Soekarnoputri and Indonesian Police chief Gen. Da'i Bahctiar, paving the way for their return to the police force.

The seven officers sued the President and police chief for forcing them to retire three years ahead of the mandatory retirement age.

Lawyer Adnan Buyung Nasution, who represented the plaintiffs, said on Tuesday that the Jakarta Administrative High Court (PTUN) had found Megawati and Da'i guilty of violating Law No. 2/2002 on the Indonesian Police when they forced the seven police officers to retire this year ahead of the retirement age stipulated by law.

The six other officers are Sr. Coms. John Nunuhitu, Sr. Coms. Adolf Selebaju, Adj. Sr. Coms. J.J. Baun, Adj. Sr. Coms. Sukimin B Kartoredjo, Coms. Krugwitop B. Emen, and Adj. Sr. Coms. Sumadi B. Kusnan.

All of the officers were still 55 when they were forced to retire. The legislation provides that a police officer should retire at the age of 58.

With the court decision, the officers must be reinstated to their previous ranks and positions in the national police, Buyung said. National Police Headquarters was not available for comment. --JP