Three police sergeants fired

Three police sergeants fired

JAKARTA (JP): After months of a thorough investigation of
their alleged crimes, three city police sergeants were finally
fired from the force beginning on Thursday.

The dismissal of the three men -- chief Sgt. Antonius Bargowo,
chief Sgt. Sunyoto and Second Sgt. Ajat Sudrajat -- was carried
out in a ceremony led by Jakarta Police chief Maj. Gen. Nurfaizi
at 7 a.m. at city police headquarters.

Antonius, from the South Jakarta Police precinct was fired for
using drugs, Sunyoto of the Jakarta Police Mobile Brigade unit
was dismissed for his role in the theft of a vehicle, and Ajat
for his involvement in stealing and murder.

"The dismissal is just a first step, as these three officers
are going to be tried at a military court soon," Nurfaizi said.

The low salaries of police officers might have been a trigger
for the three officers to commit crime, he added.

"But the most dominant thing is their lack of morality," he
said.

Quoting an expert, he said it was impossible to create a
"healthy" police officer in the midst of an ill society.

"Not that I mean our society is ill, but the police are the
product of society. As they say, crime is a shadow of
civilization," he said.

Nurfaizi denied that the police were only catching small fry
instead of bigger fish.

"We don't just focus on officers within the low ranks. We
would take action against the National Police chief if he
committed a crime," he said. (09)