Gen. Badrodin Haiti. JP/R. Berto Wedhatama

National Police chief Gen. Sutarman has named Comr. Gen. Badrodin Haiti, who currently leads the force's security maintenance division, as the National Police deputy chief amid concerns about the latter's wealth and possible human rights violations.

Badrodin, who graduated at top of his class from the Police Academy in 1982, will fill the post left by retiring Comr. Gen. Oegroseno. The appointment was announced in a police confidential telegram dated Feb. 27.

'There were also Pak Budi Gunawan and Pak Anton Bachrul [as candidates for the position]. There were many considerations and [Badrodin] was the best choice,' Sutarman said on the sidelines of an event at the National Police headquarters in Jakarta on Friday.

Sutarman was referring to the police's education division chief Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan and the police's General Supervision Inspectorate (Irwasum) chief Comr. Gen. Anton Bachrul Alam, who along with Badrodin, had been tapped as candidates for the second-in-command position.

Sutarman gave assurances that the appointment would not disrupt the security operation for the elections code-named Mantap Brata, which is currently led by Badrodin.

'Although the leader has been replaced, the organization will keep working. We will find a prominent two-star general to replace Badrodin,' he said, adding that Badrodin's successor would be announced next week.

Prior to the appointment, the 55-year-old Badrodin served as chief of police in Central Sulawesi in 2005 and North Sumatra in 2009. He served as the National Police legal division head in 2010, before leading the East Java Police one year later.

It is the fourth time Badrodin has filled Oegroseno's shoes, whom he previously replaced as Central Sulawesi Police chief, the North Sumatra Police chief and the National Police security maintenance chief.

According to leaked data from the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) Badrodin was among 23 police generals who had suspiciously large bank balances. Tempo magazine reported that Badrodin owned an insurance policy worth Rp 1.1 billion (US$94,600), which was paid for by a third party.

Between January 2004 and July 2005, Badrodin received a money transfer of Rp 50 million per month. In addition to that, his bank account accepted transfers ranging from Rp 120 million to Rp 343 million.

In 2010, the National Police claimed that 17 of the 23 accounts were clean but declined to reveal any details. 'We have clarified the allegations surrounding him and the bank account, so there is no
problem,' Sutarman said.

According to a wealth report submitted by Badrodin to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in 2012, he claimed to have a total wealth of Rp 5.82 billion and $4,000.

KPK spokesperson Johan Budi said that Badrodin's appointment could 'strengthen the police and KPK cooperation in corruption eradication'.

Meanwhile, the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) criticized Badrodin's appointment, saying that the general was responsible for an anti-terrorist raid in Tanah Runtuh, Poso, Central Sulawesi, in 2007 that left 17 dead.

'He is suspected of taking part in human rights violations because as the Central Sulawesi Police chief he ordered the raid,' Komnas HAM commissioner Siane Indriani said in a press statement made available to The Jakarta Post on Friday.

In early 2013, the public was shocked by a YouTube video showing the officers from the police's Densus 88 counterterrorism unit using excessive force during the raid. The 13-minute video sparked outrage with several Muslim groups calling for the disbandment of Densus 88.

National Police Commission (Kompolnas) commissioner Hamidah Abdurrahman expected Badrodin would improve transparency within the force.

'The police deputy chief, in his role as head of the Rank and Promotions Council [Wanjakti], must be fair in selecting and promoting officers. Kompolnas has seen too many bright and dedicated officers [sidelined by those] who have connections,' she said.

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