Farouk Arnaz – The Corruption Eradication Commission's (KPK) recent seizure of at least ten homes owned by graft suspect Insp. Gen. Djoko Susilo shed new light on the former National Police traffic corps. chief's wealth.
Antigraft investigators have discovered ten homes in ritzy neighborhoods in Jakarta, Solo, Semarang and Yogyakarta allegedly owned by the disgraced top cop. The homes, which are believed to be worth billions of rupiah, have left many wondering how a police officer, who made some Rp 30 million ($3,092) a month, could amass so many properties?
"I don't think a police officer, even though he's a general, could buy that many homes on his monthly salary," said Wisnu Ikhwan, 30, a civil servant. "It's possible Djoko had other businesses and investments, or maybe he inherited a sum of wealth from his family, but I think it is common knowledge how close the police are to corruption."
The KPK have charged Djoko with allegedly accepting a Rp 2 billion kickback to award the contract for the purchase of driving simulators to an unqualified metal company acting as a middleman. He was arrested last year after a lengthy standoff between the National Police and the KPK.
The National Police's deputy chief Comr. Gen. Nanan Soekarna declined to speculate whether Djoko used corruption funds to purchase the properties.
"That needs to be proven," he said. "[The KPK needs to prove] if he acquired his assets from gratifications, corruption or from a legal independent business. [The KPK] needs to prove if [Djoko] had the homes before the driving simulator case or after. If he had the houses before the case, then they should not have been seized."
The average salary for high-ranking police officers, Rp 10 million a month with an additional Rp 20 million in allowances and bonuses, is often not enough to cover monthly expenses, Nanan said. The deputy chief, an avid Harley-Davidson enthusiast, said that he too has to rely on side businesses to fund his lifestyle.
"I sometimes sell land, houses and food." he said, "but most importantly I don't get involved in corruption, collusion and nepotism and I don't order my subordinates to give me money."
Nanan said he has urged his colleagues to wear an anti-corruption pin above their name tag, but the request inspired jeers and claims of hypocrisy from fellow police officers.
The KPK declined to release additional details of the homes, explaining that its investigation was still ongoing. The ten homes were all listed under other people's names and were allegedly purchased with corruption funds, KPK spokesman Johan Budi said.