Senior cops face school dismissal

JAKARTA (JP): A National Police officer revealed on Monday the police would not issue advanced course certificates to some 14 middle-ranking police officers due to their alleged involvement in drugs.

"The National Police is investigating the case. If (the officers) are proven guilty, they will be dismissed," National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Dadang Garnida said on the sidelines of the graduation ceremony for students of the Class of 27 from the National Police Advanced Course in South Jakarta.

Dadang said the 14 officers refuted the results of the police's preliminary internal investigation.

"They rejected the accusation that they had used drugs. Instead, they claimed to have consumed isotonic drinks, such as Krating Daeng," said the one-star general, who later hinted that the 14 officers were among the 151 members of the graduating class.

Dadang said the National Police's Internal Affairs was investigating the case. "The police personnel investigating the case are experts in their field. They are capable of determining whether the officers really used drugs."

He added that the officers only used drugs and were not involved in selling narcotics. "None of them were traffickers."

Dadang said the officers came from various units within the police. "Those officers are from the Mobile Brigade, as well as financial and operational divisions."

The majority of the students at the National Police Advanced Course hold the rank of Senior Inspector.

It was the second official statement dealing with the alleged involvement of middle-ranking police officers in drugs.

Last March, National Police chief Gen. Rusdihardjo hinted that the National Police had identified 56 police officers, ranging in rank from Junior Chief Private to Assistant Superintendent, who were involved in drugs.

The four-star general disclosed that some of the 56 officers were traffickers, but most were only users.

Rusdihardjo said the National Police had punished the officers in accordance with their level of involvement in narcotics.

"The minimum punishment is to suspend the officers, while the toughest punishment is to bring them before the military court," he said after addressing a seminar on drugs last March at Trisakti University in Grogol, West Jakarta. (asa)