Sofjan admits to having issued documents for smuggled cars
Yogita Tahilramani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
In an inquiry led by National Police generals, Comr. Gen. Sofjan Jacoeb said on Thursday that he had issued temporary vehicle documents for 11 Mercedes Benzes, allegedly smuggled in from Singapore, during and after his term as South Sulawesi Police chief ended last year.
National Police inspector-general Comr. Gen. Ahwil Luthan said the two hours of questioning at National Police Headquarters was a fact-finding session that was part of police investigations into the nationwide luxury car smuggling ring, which allegedly involves senior police officers.
Thursday's investigative team grilling the three-star general comprised Ahwil, security chief to the National Police Chief Brig. Gen. Mudji H., Special Inspector for the National Police Inspectorate-General Brig. Gen. Jusuf Muharram, detectives Sr. Comr. Rizal Zein and Sr. Comr. Riyadi.
Ahwil said, however, that the questioning, which began at 10:40 a.m., carried no legal weight.
"This was not formal questioning. We first need to gather all the facts before building a case. This is just a part of the process," Ahwil said, adding that the police would need to gather the necessary testimonies and evidence before consulting with National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar about the next steps to take.
"It's up to the National Police chief to decide. He evaluates the facts we have gathered and decides whether Comr. Gen. Sofjan has committed an offense or a mere violation of internal police regulations."
Sr. Comr. Prasetyo of the National Police Information Center said on Thursday that should Da'i conclude that a crime was committed in the case, it would then be forwarded to the National Police detectives to be formally processed.
"Only then will witnesses be formally called and questioned, and dossiers be prepared. Once dossiers are completed, they will be handed over to state prosecutors," Prasetyo told The Jakarta Post, adding that should the case be considered to be a violation of internal police regulations, only disciplinary measures would be taken against Sofjan. Ahwil added that there was the possibility that the police would summon Sofjan again for further questioning over the matter.
The probe is unprecedented, considering that it is one of a handful of criminal cases directly involving police generals who are investigated by police detectives as required by Police Law No. 2/2002.
Each provincial police chief is allowed to issue temporary vehicle documents, which are effective for up to three months, for security reasons.
Noted criminologist Adrianus Meliala stated that it would be very difficult for police detectives to put aside their loyalty to the National Police, and conduct objective questioning of police officers.
Another criminologist, Mulyana W. Kusumah, said it was important to establish an independent team, which should not necessarily involve the police, to investigate this scandal.
Speculation has been rife that the investigation into Sofjan has more to do with his legal dispute with Da'i over the police force's mandatory retirement age, and does not necessarily have a legal motive.