Farouk Arnaz & Made Arya Kencana – National Police Chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri on Tuesday stood fast in the defense of his beleaguered chief detective, saying his institution could not just bend to public pressure and suspend an officer without reason.
"Our organization cannot be put under pressure at the whim of the people," Bambang said while visiting the Bali provincial police headquarters.
He was referring to increasing public pressure, especially from rights and antigraft groups, demanding the suspension, if not dismissal, of the National Police's chief of detectives, Comr. Gen. Susno Duaji, following his decision to name two deputy chairmen of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) suspects for allegedly accepting bribes.
According to Bambang, complaints made against Susno of abuse of power and conflict of interest were being investigated by the police's Internal Affairs Division, and until a final report in the case was issued no sanctions could be applied.
"After I get the complete report, I'll inform you," he promised journalists.
On Monday, lawyers for the two KPK deputy chairmen, who were suspended after being named suspects for allegedly taking bribes, filed a new complaint with the National Police against Susno, accusing him of having abused his authority by meeting with a fugitive businessman.
Taufik Basari, a lawyer for commissioners Chandra Hamzah and Bibit Samad Rianto, said Susno met with Anggoro Widjaja in Singapore on July 10, three days after the commission had named the businessman a suspect in a corruption case. The lawyer said the meeting constituted a breach of professional ethics.
The lawyers also claimed Susno had sent a text message to KPK officials threatening them if they did not stop investigating the Bank Century case, in which Susno is allegedly involved. The SMS, shown to reporters, carried a number identified as Susno's. Susno could not be reached for comment.
The lawyers earlier reported Susno to the police's Internal Affairs Division for suspected abuse of authority for accusing Chandra and Bibit of taking bribes in connection with the lifting of a travel ban on Anggoro this year.
Comr. Gen. Yusuf Manggabarani, the head of the Internal Affair Division, refused to comment on the sanctions Susno could face if found to have violated the police's code of ethics. Internal Affairs officers summoned Susno for a "dialogue" on Monday.
"We will give our final recommendation to the police chief first. I cannot talk to you now," he said after Monday's meeting.
According to a ruling on professional ethics issued by the head of the National Police in 2006, possible sanctions include those of an administrative nature and the obligation to apologize to the victims.
Article 12 of the document, a copy of which was obtained by the Jakarta Globe, states that when police officers are found to have breached professional ethics, "the Ethics Commission may suggest to [the police chief] administrative sanctions in the form of transfer of duty, transfer of area, honorable dismissal or dishonorable dismissal."
Rights activists have said that Susno had a conflict of interest in declaring the KPK commissioners as suspects because he was being investigated by the commission over possible involvement in alleged irregularities in the withdrawal of funds from Bank Century.