Nivell Rayda – In little more than a year, Comr. Gen. Susno Duadji went from being one of the National Police's most powerful figures to becoming its worst enemy.

He was made a pariah for exposing the dark side of the nation's law-enforcement system and showing the public how deeply mired in corruption its top officials were.

In what many believed was an attempt to gag him, the 54-year-old officer was arrested and charged with corruption, months after being stripped from his prestigious position as chief of detectives and demoted to the post of adviser to the National Police chief.

On Thursday evening, the South Jakarta District Court sentenced Susno to three and a half years in prison for accepting Rp 500 million ($57,500) in bribes in a business dispute and embezzling Rp 8.4 billion of funds earmarked to secure the 2008 gubernatorial election in West Java.

Alienated

Just hours after his sentencing, the whistle-blower granted the Jakarta Globe an exclusive interview at his home in Cinere, south of Jakarta.

"I wasn't surprised that there were attempts to retaliate against what I'm doing," Susno said.

"I predicted that this would happen, but I don't hate the police for not siding with me. I don't even hold any grudges against the individuals who framed me.

"I won't say who they are. I think the public is well aware that the whole case against me has been fabricated. People aren't stupid. I hate corruption. Why would I do something I hate? Why would I expose corruption if I was part of it?"

About 20 cars were parked outside Susno's lavish two-story home in the upscale Puri Cinere residential complex on Thursday evening. Some of his closest friends and family were visiting in a show of support following the courtroom finale.

There were no National Police officers among the guests. Also noticeably absent that day and throughout his trial were all six members of the presidentially appointed Judicial Mafia Eradication Task Force, who had initially been Susno's only allies when he first exposed the corruption within the police force.

"I've always known I was alone in the battle to reform the police and punish the rogue officials within the force," he said.

"I'm saddened and infuriated by the fact that not a single serving officer supported my moves. Instead, they all conspired to cover up the matter and try to bring me down."

Loyal family

Susno's wife, Herawati, said she had also gotten the cold shoulder.

"I used to be friends with BHD's wife," she told the Globe, referring to former police chief Gen. (ret.) Bambang Hendarso Danuri.

"She used to tell me all of her troubles, we used to hang out together. But after what happened to my husband, she wouldn't even see me. I was denied entry to her house. She wouldn't answer my calls.

"It's the same with my husband's former subordinates. They're all afraid to speak to us or show the slightest sign of support. I was enraged, my husband had always stood up for them, defended them. I believe deep down inside they want to at least show their sympathy, but can't out of fear for their safety or careers."

Throughout Thursday's court hearing, Herawati appeared composed about the prospect of her husband going to prison, so convinced was she of his innocence.

"I was shocked at the beginning, though. My husband was arrested by the very same people who had worked for him. It was degrading to see him being interrogated in the building he used to work in, arrested and detained by the institution he had passionately fought for. I felt humiliated, devastated and enraged," she said.

"I asked [Susno] many times about the allegations. I'm convinced this is a plot to silence him. When the guilty verdict came, amid all the irregularities in the case, I wasn't surprised."

Indira Tantri, Susno's daughter, said she could not bear the indignation.

"The night before the verdict, I saw my father packing his clothes, preparing for the worst possibility of going to prison. My heart was shattered," she told the Globe.

"I'm just glad that the judges didn't rule that he be imprisoned immediately. I still get to see him here, in our house, surrounded by his closest and dearest."

A changed man

It is evident that the case has changed Susno personally. Even to his most trusted peers, the three-star general now chooses his words carefully, avoiding controversial topics that might hurt his chances of winning an appeal.

His calculated attitude now is a far cry from his blustering days as chief of detectives, when he wielded the power to oversee all criminal investigations in the country. During his heyday, Susno was never afraid to speak his mind, as controversial as his opinions may have been.

His falling out with the National Police began in March last year, when he accused two of his subordinates of taking bribes from recently convicted tax official Gayus Tambunan.

His comments led to the arrest and subsequent conviction of two officers, a judge and a group of lawyers accused of bribing law-enforcement officials. Two prosecutors have also been charged with leaking top-secret prosecution dossiers, but not for bribery.

Gayus's revelations of massive graft paved the way for reform within the tax tribunal, but not within law enforcement, as Susno had envisioned. Indeed, the police have thus far failed to touch any of the top-ranking officers said to be deeply involved.

"If you look at the Gayus case, [the bribery] occurred after I was demoted [as chief of detectives]," Susno said.

Despite his ordeal, Susno said he did not hold a grudge against the police force.

"If anyone tries to tarnish the police's reputation, I'll say to them 'Over my dead body.' That extends to the [corrupt] police officers ruining the force's own credibility. They must deal with me first, whatever the risk," he said.