T

he Papua Police are investigating an officer, identified as Adj. First Insp. LS, for holding a bank account containing more than Rp 1 trillion (US$102 million), which is allegedly linked to illegal logging and fuel smuggling.

LS is believed to be Labora Sitorus, an officer at the Sorong police precinct in West Papua.

Papua Police chief spokesman Sr. Comr. I Gede Sumerta Jaya said that the bank account contained Rp 1.2 trillion, while National Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Agus Rianto said the total was Rp 1.5 trillion.

'On direct orders from the Papua Police chief, the police member has been immediately examined in connection with funds amounting to Rp 1.2 trillion kept in his bank account,' said Sumerta in Jayapura on Wednesday.

The police are investigating after receiving a report from the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) related to the officer's bank transactions between 2007 and 2012.

Sumerta said LS had invested in a number of companies, such as in the fuel, timber and entertainment businesses.

Prior to the report by the PPATK, the Papua Police internal affairs division examined LS in connection with the seizure of 1 million liters of diesel fuel off Sorong a few months ago and 15 containers filled with timber, currently impounded at Tanjung Perak Port in Surabaya, East Java.

'According to his confession, he owned shares in the illegal fuel trading company in Sorong as well as the timber company, the contraband of which is currently being impounded at Tanjung Perak Port,' said Sumerta.

LS has surrendered evidence in the form of share certificates in a number of companies.

Sumerta added the Rp 1.2 trillion in funds was the accumulated value of transactions from 2007 to 2012.

With the rank of Adj. First Insp., LS receives a monthly net salary of Rp 8 million.

'LS has banking financial transactions of around Rp 1.2 trillion, but the transactions were carried out over time. His final balance is still being calculated,' he said.

LS, added Sumerta, was examined as a witness, but could likely end up a suspect if he obtained the funds from illegal businesses. A police officer, said Sumerta, was not forbidden from doing business, but would be dealt with for being involved in illicit business.

Meanwhile, Agus Rianto said on Wednesday that the National Police would make their best efforts to solve the case concerning the force's top brass.

'The National Police will assist and back up the investigation conducted by the Papua Police, considering that this case has caught the attention of our leaders,' he said.

Agus said despite the investigation, LS was still serving under the Sorong Police.

'We're investigating based on applicable regulations. We cannot judge whether someone is guilty without legal grounds,' he said.