Susno Duadji

Entertainment News- Former detective chief Comr. Gen. Susno Duadji came to the National Police headquarters on Monday to defend his controversial claim that the force is plagued by graft, an accusation that has provoked anger from his former colleagues.

He is wearing police uniform and accompanied by his lawyer, was questioned for more than an hour by the investigators from the police internal affairs division (Propam).

The usually talkative police general talked only briefly to journalists waiting outside the building where he was questioned, as he slipped out the back door afterwards.

“We asked him whether he had the names of case brokers he claimed [operated inside the police and legal institutions]; and where and how they operated,” police spokesperson Insp. Gen. Edward Aritonang said as quoted by Antara.

Susno told the media last week that two senior police officers, Raja Erizman and Edmon Ilyas, had operated as case brokers in a money laundering and tax evasion case worth Rp 25 billion (US$2.75 million).

The case involved a tax official identified as Gayus Tambunan, who had been charged with money laundering and embezzlement following a report from the Financial Transactions Report and Analysis (PPATK) that his account suddenly received a Rp 25 billion deposit.

The prosecutors asked the judges at the Tangerang district court to sentence Gayus to six months in prison and one year’s probation.

While analysts questioned the seemingly light sentence demanded for Gayus, the court acquitted him from all charges on March 12.

“He was not proven guilty of committing money laundering and embezzling state funds as accused,” the court’s spokesman Arthur Hangewa told The Jakarta Post.

Susno has gained support from graft activists who almost demonized him last year when he was said to be trying to weaken the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) by allegedly attempting to frame its deputy chairmen.

The activists say an investigation into his claims could be crucial for further police reforms.

KPK deputy chairman Chandra Hamzah acknowledged the pressure that the anti-graft body should follow up Susno’s allegations, but added the Legal Mafia Task Force would decide which institution would be assigned to handle this.

“Let the task force work. We will see later if the case will be transferred to the KPK, Attorney Generals’ Office or police,” he said.

Susno suspected that investigators from the police and the AGO had colluded with Gayus to tamper with the investigation and had shared in his ill-gotten gains.

Aritonang said Susno had clarified his statements quite well during Monday’s questioning even though he did not bring any evidence in support of his allegations.

The spokesman said the police were committed to eradicating the activities of case brokers, but stressed they had so far found no irregularities in the handling of the Gayus case as Susno claimed.

The police believed the testimony of Gayus that the Rp 25 billion the PPATK said was suspiciously transferred into his bank account was owned by an acquaintance who wanted to buy a property.

National Police Chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri declined to comment when asked about the summoning of Susno, calling it “an internal matter for the police”.

Raja and Edmon have filed a defamation suit against Susno.

The prosecutors accused by Susno of having received bribes from Gayus also planned to make similar charges against the police general.