Farouk Arnaz, Markus Junianto Sihaloho & SP/Novianti Setuningsih – Being considered the most harmless among a rotten bunch is hardly a ringing endorsement for the man the president has nominated to take over the National Police, rated the nation's most corrupt body in a 2013 survey.
Comr. Gen. Sutarman hasn't distinguished himself in his time as top detective, according to antigraft campaigners, and has shown a degree of animosity towards the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
"What is supposed to make me optimistic? By not offering full support for the KPK, don't expect the police to solve big cases," Indonesia Corruption Watch coordinator Danang Widoyoko said on Friday, as quoted by Tempo.co.
Danang added that he did not have any reason to believe in Sutarman's ability to reform the law-enforcement institution, which received the nation's worst ranking in this year's Global Corruption Barometer conducted by Transparency International.
In short, Danang said there was nothing special about Sutarman, whom he doubted would actively tackle corrupt officers within the force.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Friday submitted a letter to the House of Representatives nominating Sutarman to replace Gen. Timur Pradopo as National Police Chief. The letter is scheduled to be officially read at the House's plenary session on Tuesday.
Sutarman has previously gone head-to-head with the KPK over the handling of the driving simulator procurement scandal.
Following the KPK's move to name Insp. Gen. Djoko Susilo as a suspect in the case in July, Sutarman claimed the antigraft institution had bypassed the police, who he said had been the first to investigate the case. He further added that the KPK had violated a memorandum of agreement on joint investigations and could be charged under the corruption law for hampering the investigation process.
Asked for comments on Sutarman's appointment, KPK chairman Abraham Samad refused to comment.
"The KPK is not in a position to support or not support an individual or others positioned as the National Police chief because that is the president's authority," Abraham said on Friday.
On Sunday, Bambang Soesatyo of House Commission III, which oversees legal affairs, said a fit and proper test for the national police chief nominee would be scheduled soon.
"After that, everything will depend on the president," Bambang said.
On his part, Sutarman has said little about his nomination. "Please pray and support me," he said on Sunday, without mentioning any plans for reform or other programs.