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