West Jakarta Police chief replaced

West Jakarta Police chief replaced

JAKARTA: The police announced on Thursday a minor reshuffle of
senior police officers, including the replacement of West Jakarta
Police chief Sr. Comr. Bambang Wasgito, who had earlier been
questioned over his alleged involvement in extortion and abuse of
power.

Bambang, who will be replaced by the current Tangerang Police
chief, Sr.Comr. Herry Prastowo, was transferred to take charge of
Unit V of the National Police Detectives' Unit First Directorate
for Transnational Security.

Bambang was accused of abuse of power as well as extortion
involving Chinese herbal medicine vendors and entertainment
center owners in Glodok, West Jakarta.

Legislator Haryanto Taslam of the Indonesian Democratic Party
of Struggle had earlier confirmed the allegations by submitting
copies of receipts for various transactions made out in Bambang's
favor.

The National Police's internal affairs unit had questioned him
and reportedly found that abuse of power had in fact taken place.
Nevertheless, no overt sanctions have been imposed on him thus
far.

However, National Police deputy chief Sr. Comr. Zainuri Lubis
asserted that Bambang's transfer was part of a normal rotation of
senior ranks, and denied it had anything to do with the extortion
allegations.

In addition to Bambang, city police detectives' chief Sr.
Comr. Andi Chaeruddin was appointed to a new position as the
deputy chief of the National Police's Operations and Control
Division. He will be replaced by Sr. Comr. Mathius Salempang.
--JP

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Focus-Drought-Bekasi
15,000 hectares of farmland dry up
JP/8/greater

15,000 hectares of farmland dry up

BEKASI: Drought has affected at least 15,000 hectares of
farmland in several districts in Bekasi regency, due to the
prolonged dry season.

Chairman of the Public Participation and Information Community
Imran Nasution revealed that the districts affected by severe
drought were Cibarusah, West Cikarang, Central Cikarang and South
Cikarang.

Imran said the situation had worsened as irrigation canals
which should channel water from the Cibeet river to the farmland,
were damaged.

"We regret that the regency has been slow to respond to the
drought. The regency should quickly repair the irrigation
canals," he said on Wednesday.

The regency earlier said that they had not repaired the
canals due to a shortage of funds. -- Antara

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Focus-drought-Bogor-garden
Plants dries up in Bogor garden
JP/8/greater

Plants dries up in botanical garden

BOGOR: Hundreds of plants in Bogor Botanical Gardens had
reportedly dried up due to the lack of rain and dwindling water
supply during the current prolonged dry season.

Hundreds of other plants, especially trees which were under
five years of age, could also die if the water shortage
continues, the garden's conservation head Sudjati Budi Susetyo
said on Thursday.

Sudjati said the water shortage was caused by a decrease in
water supply from nearby Cibalok river.

"The volume of the water has decreased and it is also polluted
by domestic waste," he said.

The scarcity of water has affected nearby Bogor Presidential
Palace which could threaten the lives of hundreds of deer in the
palace grounds.-JP