Dicky Christanto and Erwida Maulia, Jakarta – The National Police chief turned about face and sacked the detective chief implicated in an alleged conspiracy against the antigraft body, in spite of his earlier insistence that no one was losing his job.
Attorney General Hendarman Supandji also told lawmakers Tuesday he would propose the dismissal of his deputy Abdul Hakim Ritonga to the President, Antara reported.
Both chief detective Comr Gen. Susno Duadji and Ritonga were identified in wiretapped conversations, broadcast nationwide, between a businessman, police officers and prosecutors.
National Police spokesman Gen. Nanan Sukarna confirmed late Tuesday that National Police headquarters had decided to replace top officials, most notably chief detective Comr. Gen. Susno Duadji.
The separate announcements regarding Ritonga, and of the replacement of 25 police officers, came one day after the President had instructed institutional reforms including "corrective" measures within the police and the Attorney General's Office.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Monday was stating his views on the recommendations of his "Team 8", tasked to investigate the case of two deputies of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). They were charged with extortion, bribery and abuse of power.
The team had concluded, among others, that there were "indications of fabrication" of the case and that the officials involved in such actions should be punished.
National Police chief Bambang Hendarso Danuri had said all along that none of his staff were resigning.
Susno remains as a police officer, though in a "non job" position. "Let's wait and see," said Nanan, in response to whether Susno would still be questioned regarding his alleged involvement in the KPK case.
Nanan was also not clear on whether Susno would face questioning on his alleged role in the Bank Century scandal, where a controversial bailout had cost the state trillions of rupiah.
Susno is replaced by Insp. Gen. Ito Sumardi, now the National Police chief's expert staff coordinator.
The former Riau police chief, was once questioned for an alleged role in gambling. Ito however said he was the one who had declared major gamblers as suspects.
Leading anticorruption activist Teten Masduki said that despite skepticism, the police replacements were "better late than never." "The fact is that the police are willing to replace those allegedly involved in a scandal. This should restore public trust in the police."
The President's instruction to initiate institutional reforms within the law enforcement agencies was one of only two orders he gave in response to the report and the recommendations of the "Team 8", arguing that formally ordering a halt into investigations or the indictment process was not within his authority.
In response to the recommendation that the President act to eradicate the legal mafia, as indicated in the KPK case, Yudhoyono said he had ordered the establishment of a "task force" to tackle the "brokers."
The team had said that he should start with "thorough investigations into the legal mafia involving Anggodo Widjojo and Ari Muladi," in reference to two of the suspected main brokers in the case.