M. Taufiqurrahman and Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta – A National Police disciplinary hearing has decided to suspend Brig. Gen. Samuel Ismoko, the national police operations chief, for one year for discriminatory practices against suspects under his investigation.

The hearing, however, cleared Ismoko of a much more controversial allegation that he received bribes from Adrian Waworuntu, a key suspect in the Rp 1.7 trillion (US$187 million) Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) scandal.

Last year Adrian managed to sneak out of the country, fleeing to the United States, in spite of a travel ban imposed on him. There were strong suspicions that high-ranking officers and bureaucrats were involved in assisting his escape.

The disciplinary hearing was presided over by National Police deputy chief Comr. Gen. Adang Dorodjatun, and it found that Ismoko had violated the police code of ethics.

"As a supervisor of the investigation into the BNI fraud, he (Ismoko) gave unequal treatment to suspects," said Adang, reading out the decision on Tuesday, according to Antara.

Some suspects under Ismoko's investigation were detained in police custody, while others were let free.

Before coming to the decision, the panel of police officers was told that Ismoko had served more than 30 years in the police force without blemish.

Commenting on the decision, Ismoko said that he understand the situation. "I have done my best. If some of (my actions) were considered in violation of the code of ethics, then I can understand it," he said.

Ismoko said, however, that he would consider appealing against the suspension. He has seven days to make an official response to the panel's decision.

Ismoko was earlier accused of having violated three articles in the code of ethics. The first was for discriminatory treatment against suspects in the BNI fraud investigation.

The second was for bribery, in the form of a laptop computer, handphone, television set, and sums of money – US$20,000 and Rp500 million – that he was alleged to have received from the suspect Adrian.

The third was the belated hand-over of Adrian to the Jakarta High Prosecutors Office.

Commenting on the disciplinary measure imposed on Ismoko, executive director of the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI) Johnson Panjaitan said that the senior police officer should have been charged under the criminal law for corruption.

"What he did was not merely a violation of the police code of ethics; it was a criminal act in itself and he should be prosecuted under criminal law," Johnson said.

Johnson was concerned that instead of having his career terminated, Ismoko may possibly get an even better position sometime in future, as demonstrated in the past where high ranking personnel in the National Police and Indonesian Military (TNI), who were involved in human rights abuses, were actually promoted.

He cited the example of the then Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Syafrie Syamsuddin who was alleged to have been involved in human rights abuses during the May 1999 riots, and was later promoted to become TNI spokesman.

"This disciplinary measure is part of a plot to vindicate the 'big fish' swindlers of state money and also to give the impression that justice has been done. In fact, he will be rewarded in the future," he said.