T

he National Police have launched a recruitment process for the prestigious National Police Academy (Akpol), which the force says will be conducted under tight scrutiny to ensure transparency and accountability.

The process, which runs from April 19 until May 25, is open to high school graduates under the age of 21.

National Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Agus Rianto said candidates were expected to have good academic records, with a minimum average final exam score of 7.25 on a scale of 1-10, and a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score above 500.

'For the recruitment, the National Police have invited external supervisors who come from local education agencies, the media and the general public,' Agus told a press conference in Jakarta.

Agus was responding to the allegation that bribery had become an essential means of candidates wanting to make the cut.

'During the process, we will try to announce the result of every test on the same day. This is to reduce the possibility of foul play,' he said.

Every year, the National Police recruit around 300 candidates, 50 of which are women. They will receive a four-year education at the Akpol complex in Semarang, Central Java before achieving the rank of Second Inspector.

Many Akpol graduates hold important positions in the force and this has prompted parents to offer bribes so that their children are accepted in the academy.

Last year, the police arrested Yora Bunda Rindi, who claimed to be the daughter of then National Police chief Gen. Timur Pradopo and claimed she could help people be selected as Akpol or Bintara (low-ranking) police candidates.

During the arrest, the police confiscated Rp 1.62 billion (US$141,530) ' which she swindled from six candidates.

The National Police Commission (Kompolnas) says it will closely monitor the selection process.

'We will visit several regions to supervise the selection. The Akpol selection is very important. By ensuring the transparency of the process, we will be able to get the best candidates who have capability to advance the National Police in the future,' Kompolnas commissioner M. Nasser said.

Aside from the Akpol cadet recruitment, the National Police have just wrapped up the registration process for Bintara positions.

More than 322,000 people have applied for the positions, but only 192,000 candidates met the initial requirements. They consist of 131,572 male and 61,264 female candidates.

The National Police will conduct a series of physical fitness and intelligence tests to recruit 10,750 male and 7,000 female cadets.