Farouk Arnaz & Muninggar Sri Saraswati – Zero coordination were the operative words on Thursday as the National Police made conflicting statements in regard to internal investigations into Comr. Gen. Susno Duadji, the nation's former top police detective, who appeared last week without his boss's consent as a defense witness in a murder trial which his own office had probed.

A National Police spokesman insisted there was no need to summon Susno because he had already "clarified" his position to police intelligence chief Insp. Gen. Saleh Saaf.

"Clarification was provided regarding death threats received by Susno and his court appearance to defend Antasari," police spokesman Insp. Gen. Edward Aritonang said on Thursday, adding that Saleh was part of the team questioning Susno over his court appearance at the murder trial of Antasari Azhar, the former chief of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

Edward said police investigators were in the process of determining whether the information they had collected was enough to go forward with an ad hoc ethics trial of Susno.

Susno had recently said that he began receiving death threats via text message shortly after his trial appearance last week.

However, Insp. Gen. Oegroseno, head of the National Police's Professionalism and Security Division, said on Thursday that Susno's name was still on the list of those to be summoned over his surprise presence in court.

"We have already summoned a number of witnesses from the South Jakarta District Court. We still need to question other witnesses before we summon Susno," Oegroseno said. He also contradicted Edward by saying Saleh was not part of the team questioning Susno.

"However, it is quite likely that the task is extended to others. According to information we receive, we will make a recommendation to the police chief as to whether an ethics trial is required," Oegroseno said.

Many consider Susno powerful because he formerly occupied the post of deputy chairman of the Financial Transactions Report and Analysis Center (PPATK), which has complete access to detailed financial documents of anyone being investigated for money laundering, as well as the power to freeze assets linked to crimes.

Susno lost his post as chief of detectives in December. His demotion followed his involvement in high-profile charges allegedly fabricated against two deputy chairmen of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

Neta S Pane, the coordinator of Indonesia Police Watch, and Hermawan Sulistyo, from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, said that should police decide not to formally question Susno, it was because he had been effective in defending his actions.

"It is at the discretion of the police, but they must be responsible for their actions. I believe the National Police have considered the reasons Susno had to attend the trial," Hermawan said.

Neta said that according to the Criminal Code there was no reason for the National Police to bring Susno before an ethics court.

"I believe there now is a common understanding between police headquarters and Susno. I also believe that he is expected to make peace with the police chief sometime next week," Neta said.

Arriving in a white shirt and tie, Susno visited National Police headquarters on Wednesday to chat with Saleh, after the police intelligence chief visited Susno at his residence in Depok.

Saleh had said earlier the police "would not fire" Susno and that the two had met to discuss, among other things, Susno's claims of death threats.