Ousted National Police chief detective Comr. Gen. Susno Duadji is back, not in his capacity as an active police general, but as a news maker. His return to the limelight also draws a big question mark on what exactly has been going on in the police institution.
After a four-month hiatus from active duty since his removal from the police force’s prestigious position on Nov. 24, 2009, following his “gecko versus crocodile” statement and his high-profile testimony before the House of Representatives’ Bank Century special inquiry committee on Nov. 27, 2009, the three-star general has been making headlines in the national media lately with his controversial claim that the force is plagued by graft.
Susno’s televised statement last week, implicating two police generals as case brokers in a Rp 25 billion (US$2.75 million) money laundering and tax evasion case, shocked not only his former colleagues, but also the general public.
The question is who should we trust? The two generals – Brig. Gen. Raja Erizman and Brig. Gen. Edmon Ilyas – have denied the accusations as vehemently as Susno has made them.
Another question is, what organization should have the authority to verify Susno’s claim and investigate it?
It is undeniably difficult to trust either Susno or the two police generals. Susno’s unpopular “gecko versus cro-codile” statement in July, 2009, at the height of the Corruption Eradication Commission’s (KPK) investigation into judicial corruption by Anggodo Widjojo, which also implicated Susno, has given the public good reason to not trust him.
On top of that, Susno was also allegedly involved in the unwarranted release of $18 million from the then frozen Bank Century to one of the bank’s largest depositors, Boedi Sampoerna. His alleged involvement was uncovered during a wiretapped phone conversation with the latter’s lawyer in April 2009. Susno has denied his involvement in the Century case, but he has not yet testified before a court.
Similarly, according to research by various anticorruption organizations, the police force ranks among the top five most corrupt institutions in the country making it hard for the public to trust denials from Raja and Edmon.
An inquiry into Susno’s claims must be conducted to find out who is indeed telling the truth. The National Police should, obviously, not be in charge of any investigation into the claims, instead it should be carried out by the Attorney General’s Office or the KPK – the two institutions with investigative authority beside the police – to avoid conflict of interest.
The police’s premature interrogation of Susno, whatever motive is behind it, is out of line as again it will neglect the universal principles of objectivity and impartiality of an investigation by other law enforcement institutions.
It is true that the police have the right to summon Susno for internal questioning as he is still an active member of the force. But, the substance of the questioning by the police’s internal affairs division should only be in line its disciplinary authority within the police institution and not expanded to alleged graft practices in the police force.
Handing over the authority to investigate the claims made by Susno to either the AGO or the KPK is not in anyway a slight to the police institution’s investigative capability. It is merely a move made for the sake of impartiality.
After a four-month hiatus from active duty since his removal from the police force’s prestigious position on Nov. 24, 2009, following his “gecko versus crocodile” statement and his high-profile testimony before the House of Representatives’ Bank Century special inquiry committee on Nov. 27, 2009, the three-star general has been making headlines in the national media lately with his controversial claim that the force is plagued by graft.
Susno’s televised statement last week, implicating two police generals as case brokers in a Rp 25 billion (US$2.75 million) money laundering and tax evasion case, shocked not only his former colleagues, but also the general public.
The question is who should we trust? The two generals – Brig. Gen. Raja Erizman and Brig. Gen. Edmon Ilyas – have denied the accusations as vehemently as Susno has made them.
Another question is, what organization should have the authority to verify Susno’s claim and investigate it?
It is undeniably difficult to trust either Susno or the two police generals. Susno’s unpopular “gecko versus cro-codile” statement in July, 2009, at the height of the Corruption Eradication Commission’s (KPK) investigation into judicial corruption by Anggodo Widjojo, which also implicated Susno, has given the public good reason to not trust him.
On top of that, Susno was also allegedly involved in the unwarranted release of $18 million from the then frozen Bank Century to one of the bank’s largest depositors, Boedi Sampoerna. His alleged involvement was uncovered during a wiretapped phone conversation with the latter’s lawyer in April 2009. Susno has denied his involvement in the Century case, but he has not yet testified before a court.
Similarly, according to research by various anticorruption organizations, the police force ranks among the top five most corrupt institutions in the country making it hard for the public to trust denials from Raja and Edmon.
An inquiry into Susno’s claims must be conducted to find out who is indeed telling the truth. The National Police should, obviously, not be in charge of any investigation into the claims, instead it should be carried out by the Attorney General’s Office or the KPK – the two institutions with investigative authority beside the police – to avoid conflict of interest.
The police’s premature interrogation of Susno, whatever motive is behind it, is out of line as again it will neglect the universal principles of objectivity and impartiality of an investigation by other law enforcement institutions.
It is true that the police have the right to summon Susno for internal questioning as he is still an active member of the force. But, the substance of the questioning by the police’s internal affairs division should only be in line its disciplinary authority within the police institution and not expanded to alleged graft practices in the police force.
Handing over the authority to investigate the claims made by Susno to either the AGO or the KPK is not in anyway a slight to the police institution’s investigative capability. It is merely a move made for the sake of impartiality.
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