Markus Junianto Sihaloho – The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved the appointment of Sutarman as the new chief of the National Police.

"We hereby approve Comr. Gen. Sutarman as the National Police chief, replacing General Timur Pradopo," House deputy speaker Priyo Budi Santoso said before plenary participants.

The former chief detective was the sole candidate nominated to the House by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono – the president normally nominates a number of candidates for approval by the legislature.

Sutarman's appointment was, however, unanimously approved last week by the House's Commission III, which oversees legal affairs, human rights and security, after a 12-hour fit-and-proper interview.

Tuesday's session finalizes the legislative approval of Sutarman. Yudhoyono is expected to inaugurate the incoming chief later this month, presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha has said.

Timur, 58, is due for retirement in January, while Sutarman, born on Oct. 5, 1957, is two years his predecessor's junior.

Sutarman joined the police force in 1982 as a member of the traffic unit of Bandung Police. He became Surabaya Police chief in 2004, before heading police forces in Riau, West Java and Jakarta.

He began serving as the head of the National Police's criminal investigation division (Bareskrim) in July 2011.