Suspected police captains have not been detained

TANGERANG, West Java (JP): Police Capt. Ade Sutiana and Capt. Unggul, who are accused of violating police rules and whose dossiers have been handed over to the military police, are not detained.

Head of City Police Detectives Col. Paimin Abuamr said yesterday there is no need to detain them as they are ready to be summoned at anytime for questioning.

Ade, the head of Tangerang police detectives, has been dismissed from his job for his alleged negligence which led to the escape of a female Ecstasy suspect, Zarima, in August. While Unggul, head of the Serpong police subprecinct, has lost his job for an alleged extortion last month.

According to Paimin, police have handed over the case of Capt. Unggul, head of the Serpong police subprecinct in Tangerang detained for an alleged extortion, to the Military Police for further questioning prior to trial by military tribunal.

"The dossiers on Unggul's case was handed over recently but the suspected officer, based on the existing laws, is not detained," Paimin told The Jakarta Post.

"So now, we're just waiting for the result of the questioning made by the Jakarta Military Police," said Paimin. He refused to give further detail.

Unggul was apprehended by city police officers from the Internal Affairs division for his alleged role in extorting money from a 70-year-old man suspected of running a gambling den.

The officer had reportedly promised the suspect that he would arrange his release provided that he (the suspect) gave him Rp 10 million (US$4,255) and a 1,000 square meter plot of land.

However, another version describes that Unggul was set up by the local gambler, identified as Pungut, who had arranged for a senior police officer to be present when a deal was struck with Unggul.

It remains unknown whether Unggul, who has been dismissed from his job, would be fired from the police force.

The investigation on Pungut and some other gamblers, who were arrested at the same time, is also still a mystery.

Few days before Unggul was arrested, Ade had been apprehended following the escape of an alleged female drug-trafficker, Zarima.

Ade and dossiers related to his case have also been handed over to the Jakarta Military office for further questioning prior to trial at the military tribunal.

Col. Djasri M., commander of the Jakarta Military Police, pledged to bring the case to the military court as soon as possible.

Ade was accused of further negligence because he allowed Zarima to take a bath while on his escort and lent his mobile telephone to the escapee, who apparently used it to arrange her escape.

The woman was apprehended by Ade's personnel on Aug. 7 along with 29,677 Ecstasy pills -- worth at least Rp 1.78 billion (US$757,700) through illicit transaction- in her possession at her home in West Jakarta.

A reliable source said that Ade may also face criminal charges. (bsr)