Two officers detained in garlic scam: Source

Two officers detained in garlic scam: Source

JAKARTA (JP): Two police officers have been detained for
possible involvement in the alleged sale of more than seven tons
of garlic earmarked as material evidence in court, a police
source said yesterday.

The officer of the city police headquarters, who spoke on the
condition of anonymity, said officers whom he identified only as
YL and NG were under investigation by the city police internal
affairs unit.

"They were detained in relation to the ongoing investigation
on the reports of a spice trader swindled out of her
merchandise," he said.

Also part of the investigation is Lt. Col. SUN from the city
police fraud detectives unit, he added.

All are being questioned by a special team set up to
investigate the possible involvement of police officers in the
alleged sale of 7.32 metric tons of garlic confiscated from a
spice trader named Setia Arba Sibarani, 43.

Setia accused members of the police fraud detective unit last
week of selling the garlic they confiscated from her for her
alleged involvement in illegal transactions last year.

She claimed the police cooperated with another spice trader,
Lely, in selling the confiscated garlic.

Contacted by The Jakarta Post, city police spokesman Lt. Col.
E. Aritonang said he was unaware of the detention of the two
officers.

"There is an ongoing investigation into this case but, as far
as I know, there are no officers detained," he said.

Aritonang said Lely told the police she bought the garlic from
another trader, not from a police officer. (edt)