The National Police is looking into claims made by former police detective chief Susno Duadji that top officers were involved in graft surrounding the investigation of a tax evasion and money laundering case worth Rp 25 billion (US$2.7 million).
“We will investigate the report regardless of whether the suspects are police officers,” National Police detective chief Comr. Gen. Ito Sumardi said in Jakarta on Wednesday.
On Sunday Susno said three officers may have manipulated evidence, making a state loss of Rp 25 billion appear to be only Rp 400 million.
Susno identified the first accused as the former “second in command” of the National Police, which could refer to former National Police deputy chief Comr. Gen. Makbul Padmanegara.
Others accused were identified by their initials as Brig. Gen. EI (one of Susno’s subordinates in the case was Brig. Gen. Edmon Ilyas), Brig. Gen. RE, Comr. E, Sr. Comr. B and Adj. Sr. Comr. M — all members of the Special Economy Directorate of the National Police of which Susno was the former chief.
The officers may have endorsed the graft, Susno said.
He also said a tax office inspector general, identified as Gayus T. Tambunan, and businessman Andi Kosasih may have been involved in the case.
However, Susno said the latter’s name had been used to cover recipients of the funds.
“This claim is being investigated,” Ito said.
Ito said the police had taken the report seriously and would aim to show that the police was serious in its commitment to fighting graft, especially cases involving officers.
Susno told detik.com news portal on Wednesday he would report the alleged conspiracy involving police officers and tax officials to the judicial corruption taskforce today (Thursday).
He said the meeting would take place on a request from taskforce secretary Denny Indrayana.
Susno questioned why the taskforce had not taken the lead he had given to the media last week.
National Police chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri said Susno would be summoned by the National Police profession and ethics (Propam) division to present more details on his claims that have made headlines in local media, which treats them as an oddity.
Corruption in the police force has become no secret. In its corruption perception index, Transparency International Indonesia has frequently ranked the police among the most corrupt state institutions.
“I have ordered Propam to summon Susno and the National Police chief detective to conduct a comprehensive ‘expose’,” Bambang said after meeting President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday.
He said Susno was airing his personal views and that the police leadership would not summon senior officers until sufficient evidence had been secured.
“We are in the process of compiling evidence, but cannot accuse anyone without evidence,” he said.
Susno’s claim could not be treated as evidence, he added.
