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)