Terrorism may prompt police to neglect other issues
Terrorism may prompt police to neglect other issues
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The police could be overburdened with dozens of unresolved
cases if they are asked to deal with more terrorism-related
cases, says one legal observer.
"It's no doubt that police resources have been absorbed to
combat terrorism. However, they must manage their tasks more
efficiently by slashing unnecessary spending," legal observer,
Hendardi told the Jakarta Post.
Hendardi called on the police to be professional, and not
neglect their investigations of other cases, especially those
which had wider public implications.
"Police failure to cope with high profile cases could
strengthen public suspicion that the police intentionally push
those cases aside using the excuse that they have to prioritize
terrorism," said Hendardi.
Hendardi gave an example of high profile cases being neglected
which included the alleged bribery case implicating lawyer Elza
Syarief and other cases like the graft involving fast food
restaurant McDonald's boss, Bambang Rachmadi.
City Police Detective Chief would not offer an explanation on
the status of those cases.
"I must first ask to my investigators (about the ongoing legal
status of those cases)," City Police Detective Chief, Sr. Comr.
Andi Chaeruddin told The Jakarta Post recently.
Andi admitted that most of his staff was absorbed with the
terrorist case related to the Bali bombings which killed more
than 190, and injured 300 others.
"We understand that there are "seasons" (for handling
cases)...And, currently, we are simply work in accordance with
the "season," which includes offenses related to terrorism," he
explained.
Andi revealed that almost every one of his detectives was
allocated to cases related to terrorists, the remainder were
probing drug-related and corruption cases.
Andi admitted that since most of his energy was being absorbed
by those problems, that other cases were on the back burner.
"But, we promise to continue legal proceedings to settle the
investigations over those neglected cases," he said.
Police have some homework to do to clear up high profile cases
demanded by the public, especially the one involving Elza, who
defended the assassination case of the youngest son of former
President Soeharto, Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra.
Elza was charged with violating Article 242 of the Criminal
Code on giving false testimony under oath and Article 2 of the
law No. 11/1980 on bribery, which carry sentences of seven years
and five years jail respectively.
In addition to Elza's case, police still have to settle the
investigation process over the graft case involving president
director of PT McDonald's Indonesia, Bambang N. Rachmadi. Bambang
was named a suspect by City Police in the Rp 40 billion (US$4
million) graft case involving state-owned social security company
PT Jamsostek.