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Calls for police reform grow louder as shooting probe raises new concerns
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National Police chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo (center), flanked by deputy chief Comr. Gen. Gatot Eddy Pramono (right) and General Supervision Inspectorate chief Comr. Gen. Agung Budi Maryoto (left), briefs members of the press at the National Police headquarters in Jakarta on July 12. (Antara/Reno Esnir)
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nvestigations into a fatal shootout between police officers in South Jakarta have resulted in more questions than answers as irregularities plague the case, sparking renewed calls for transparency and police reform.
Officer Nopryansyah Yosua Hutabarat was killed in an alleged exchange of fire with fellow officer Richard Eliezer Pudihang Lumiu at the official residence of the police's then-internal affairs chief Insp. Gen. Ferdy Sambo in Jakarta in early July. Both officers had been on duty as Ferdy’s aides de camp, and before the incident, they had escorted the family on a trip from Magelang, Central Java, to Jakarta.
The discovery of a series of irregularities surrounding the case and the police's account of the incident, including claims of broken CCTV cameras inside the official residence and an unclear account of Ferdy’s whereabouts during the incident, have raised public suspicions of a cover-up.
Amnesty International Indonesia executive director Usman Hamid questioned the police’s independence in handling Yosua’s case, particularly after Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Fadil Imran was seen in a short video hugging and kissing Ferdy's forehead only days after the shooting death.
Fadil said he was merely offering support for Ferdy, whom he referred to as a brother, kompas.com reported.
At the time, the South Jakarta Police were investigating allegations that Yosua had attempted to assault Ferdy's wife shortly before the fatal shooting. But days later, Fadil's office took over the assault case, claiming it had better equipment and experience.
On Sunday, the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) took over the investigation into the alleged assault from Fadil's office, citing reasons of efficiency, kompas.com reported.
