Farouk Arnaz – With police searching for further evidence against him, a new round of trouble could be looming for former chief of detectives Comr. Gen. Susno Duadji.
The independent police team investigating Susno, who woke up today in a Mobile Brigade (Brimob) cell block in Depok after being arrested on Monday for alleged bribe taking, is also busy probing separate cases implicating him, a police source said on Tuesday.
"Susno has received bribes not only related to an arowana fish farm in Pekanbaru, Riau, in 2008, in which he accepted Rp 500 million [$55,000] from lawyer Haposan Hutagalung via Sjahril Djohan. There are several other cases in which we suspect Susno was also involved," the source said.
He declined to provide more details, but said the team's investigators were being dispatched outside Jakarta, "to collect more information for charges on new allegations against Susno when he was still serving as chief detective and as West Java Police chief."
Susno became head of the West Java Police in January 2008, then became National Police chief of detectives in October 2008.
He already faces up to 20 years in jail and fines of up to Rp 1 billion if found guilty. He was sent to the Brimob detention facility in Kelapa Dua in Depok, south of Jakarta, on Tuesday evening. He may be detained for an initial 20 days and possibly up to 60 days.
Susno's arrest came a day after former narcotics officer Adj. Sr. Comr. Syamsurizal Mokoagouw told the Jakarta Globe he had seen alleged case broker Sjahril bribe Susno at the latter's house in South Jakarta in December 2008.
Susno's lawyer, Ari Yusuf Amir, said he planned to challenge the police decision to name Susno a suspect. "We will be file a pretrial motion against the police at the South Jakarta District Court on Wednesday [today]," Ari said.
He said Susno refused to be questioned on Tuesday because it was not explained why he was a suspect. "He has the right to know why he was named a suspect, but so far the investigators have failed to meet his right," Ari said.
Susno told journalists on Monday that he had refused to sign his arrest warrant, "because I disagree with how they are treating me." He called the arrest "baseless," but said he wouldn't ask to have his detention suspended "since I know I am not guilty."
Susno later told the Globe by text: "I will fight this arrogance, and not only through legal procedures. I will also take another option." He did not elaborate.
Meanwhile, Susno's family has fueled controversy by alleging that "a number of police generals" had illegally committed polygamy and have not been punished.
The claim, made by Susno's family spokesman, Husni Maderi, shortly after Susno's arrest, has kept online social networks buzzing with gossip. Husni said polygamy violated the marriage laws that forbade state officials, including police officers and soldiers, from having more than one wife.
Commenting on the claim, National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Edward Aritonang warned that loose talk could be dangerous. "It is their right as citizens to say something, but what they say must be based on facts and not be libelous," he said.