Yogyakarta gets new police chief

YOGYAKARTA: Deputy National Police chief Com. Gen. Bimantoro installed Brig. Gen. Logan Siagian as the province's top law enforcement officer on Tuesday and denied allegations that the change was aimed at disrupting an investigation into the killing of a local journalist in 1996.

Bimantoro said Logan's replacement of Brig. Gen. Dadang Sutrisno was part of a major reshuffle affecting 35 senior officers.

"We expect that this change will improve the Yogyakarta Police's performance, including in uncovering the truth behind the murder," Bimantoro told reporters.

The Yogyakarta branch of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) has questioned Dadang's removal, which was decided upon when he was intensifying the probe into the death of Fuad Muhammad Safrudin alias Udin, which remains a mystery.

Bimantoro pledged the investigation would continue, but he set no deadline for the police to put the issue beyond doubt. Udin's murder has been linked to his criticism of the Bantul regency administration.

Dadang will be assigned to the training and education section at National Police Headquarters. (44)