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Police probe general who allegedly issued travel letter for graft fugitive Djoko Tjandra
National Police spokesperson Insp. Gen. Argo Yuwono admitted on Wednesday that the travel letter was issued by a police general and head of a bureau within the force, although he stopped short of mentioning the person's name.
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Graft convict Djoko Tjandra stands trial for his involvement in the Bank Bali graft case. He was convicted of misusing Bank Indonesia Liquidity Support (BLBI) funds in the case. (JP/Arief Suhardiman)
T
he National Police have launched an investigation into a police general at the Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) who reportedly issued a letter for fugitive and graft convict Djoko Soegiarto Tjandra that allowed him to travel within the country.
The case first came to light after watchdog Indonesia Police Watch (IPW) reported that the head of the Civil Servant Investigator Supervisory and Coordination Bureau at Bareskrim, Brig. Gen. Prasetyo Utomo, had signed a travel letter on June 18, allowing Djoko to fly from Jakarta to Pontianak in West Kalimantan on June 19 and return on June 22 in his capacity as a consultant.
National Police spokesperson Insp. Gen. Argo Yuwono admitted on Wednesday that the travel letter was issued by a police general and head of a bureau within the force, although he stopped short of mentioning the person's name.
He said that person was currently under investigation by the police's internal affairs division (Propam).
"The head of the bureau made the travel letter on his own initiative," Argo said as quoted by kompas.com on Wednesday. "If the investigation proved his involvement, he would be dismissed from his position."
Read also: House mulls creating special committee to probe failure to detect fugitive Djoko Tjandra's return
Djoko, a convict in a high-profile Bank Bali corruption case, has remained at large for more than a decade ever since he fled to Papua New Guinea following his conviction in June 2009. He reportedly returned to Indonesia without being detected by the Immigration Office and filed a review of his case in early June.
He reportedly obtained an e-ID card from the South Grogol subdistrict in Jakarta on June 8 and a passport on June 27. However, his whereabouts now remain unknown to the authorities.
Bareskrim chief Insp. Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo said earlier on Wednesday that he had ordered the Propam to investigate the matter upon learning about the allegations, adding that he would take stern measures against the person involved in the case.
House of Representatives deputy speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad also called on the police to check the validity of the letter. “We must confirm whether the letter was true, which institution and who is responsible for the issuance of the letter,” the Gerindra Party politician told The Jakarta Post.
