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Police force investigates itself over alleged complicity in drug trade

Jakarta Post - August 8, 2016

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Suherdjoko, Semarang, Central Java – National Police chief Tito Karnavian has formed a team to investigate information conveyed by Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) coordinator Haris Azhar on the alleged involvement of police officials the network of executed drug lord Freddy Budiman.

"I do not want to comment on [Haris Azhar]. The most important thing is that we are going to investigate the information. The police's Internal Affairs Division [Propam] and General Supervision Inspectorate [Irwasum] will conduct the investigation [...]," Tito said on the sidelines of a charity event in a fishing village in Tambaklorok, Semarang, Central Java, on Friday.

In his testimony to Haris in 2014, Freddy claimed that officials from the National Police, the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) and the Indonesian Military (TNI) were involved in his international drug network.

Haris release the testimony via social media one day before the drug lord was executed on the Nusakambangan prison island in Cilacap, Central Java, on July 29. Freddy claimed in his testimony that he had managed to operate his drug network thanks to support from top officials of the three institutions. He did not reveal any names, however.

Tito said the police would examine the information. "This information cannot be used as evidence. Besides, it does not provide names. According to Article 184 of the Criminal Code, evidence comprises transactions, information from witnesses and letters containing information from defendants," said the police chief.

"The testimony also cannot be categorized as guidance, because guidance must have conformity between one piece of evidence and another. So what we've seen now is just information, and information can be used only as a source for an investigation," he added.

Tito said he expected the Indonesian public to understand that information could be either true or false. Therefore, he said, the police would carry out internal supervision and investigation measures in response to information from the Kontras leader.

"The Irwasum will involve external figures, so the investigation will be credible. This is because the National Police's commitment not to tolerate drug perpetrators is firm and clear," said Tito, adding that throughout 2016, more than 300 police personnel had been legally processed for being involved in drug crime. (ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/08/07/police-force-investigates-itself-over-alleged-complicity-in-drug-trade.html.