Jakarta – Many police officers in the Indonesian capital are involved in organised crime and provide security to top gangsters, said a former police chief.

Retired police Major-General Koesparmono Irsan warned that the widespread organised crime, which also involves policemen, was getting out of control. "I think there are many police officers who have links with gangsters," he said.

But Maj-Gen Koesparmono, who served with the police for more than 30 years, admitted that it was hard to pinpoint the officers who were part of the criminal underworld.

He believed that in most developing countries, organised crime could survive only with the help of the authorities, such as the police, or other law enforcers or government officials.

Mr Anton Medan, a gangster-turned-preacher, concurred, saying that many police, government officials and legislators regularly become protectors of gangs throughout the country.

"That is particularly true in the provinces," he said, citing rampant illegal logging in several provinces in the country by organised criminals who are in direct collusion with the authorities.

Mr Anton said that during the New Order era, there was only one really powerful criminal organisation, the youth wing of the then ruling Golkar party. The organisation, he said, squeezed protection money from businessmen.

"Currently, the condition is getting worse because most big political parties have such an organisation. Police usually back them because they are close to power," he said, adding that flourishing "private gangster organisations" are also backed by police.

He suggested that all political parties must disband their so-called youth wings or task forces which often are officially described as a private security group for campaign rallies and other large party functions.