Observer: Police chief’s absence sets bad precedent

The Indonesian Police Watch (IPW) criticized National Police chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri for his absence from a planned swearing-in ceremony of several high-ranking officers on Friday.

Speculation was rife that Bambang cracked under pressure following a series of problems facing the police force, the latest being a controversy over his failure to meet a promise to provide transcripts of wiretapped telephone conversations that indicated graft within the Corruption Eradication Commission.

Bambang also skipped a state agenda at the State Palace later on Friday.

IPW coordinator Neta Pane said Bambang’s no-show set a bad precedent, as he should have assigned his deputy Comr. Gen. Jusuf Manggabarani to install the new police officers. The ceremony was delayed indefintely.

“It was an unprecedented incident,” Neta said as quoted by tempointeraktif.com.

He said he heard Bambang and Yusuf were summoned by the President on Friday morning, but the meeting was canceled. “Logically it was the President who decided to call of the meeting,” Neta said.

An advisor to the police chief, Kastorius Sinaga, put an end to the speculation, saying Bambang stayed at home due to poor health.

“I have a stomach ache. I vomited and suffered from a headache,” Kastorius quoted Bambang as saying. Kastorius added Bambang phoned him at 5:45 p.m. on Friday.

According to Kastorius, Bambang complained of fatigue due to his heavy workload in the last few days and would take a rest for one or two days.