Gen. Idham’s Swift Action

Kompas/Heru Sri Kumoro

National Police Chief General Idham Azis

National Police chief Gen. Idham Azis took swift action, suspending Brig. Gen. Prasetijo Utomo over Joko S Tjandra’s case.

The National Police chief\'s swift move should be appreciated and is expected to save face. The police’s image was severely damaged by a maneuver by graft convict and fugitive Joko Tjandra and his lawyers.

Also read : Totality in Catching Fugitives

Since the beginning, Joko Tjandra\'s arrival in Jakarta, registering for his electronic ID card, submitting a case review (PK) at the South Jakarta District Court and applying for a passport at the North Jakarta Immigration Office, has indeed raised questions. Joko Tjandra\'s status is that of a fugitive even though in the immigration system and the civil registration system there is no record of him as a fugitive. Joko Tjandra\'s name on Interpol’s fugitive list is missing. This also raises questions.

The leakage, probably intentionally, of travel authorization for Joko Tjandra, which was signed by the head of the Civil Apparatus Investigation and Coordination Bureau (PPNS) can be perceived as an internal dynamic within the police force. Likewise, the circulation of "chat conversations" of Joko Tjandra\'s lawyer, Anita Kolopaking. Anita claimed her cellphone had been hacked. This series of incidents indicates that there is a serious problem in the Joko Tjandra case.

Also read : Confiscating the Assets of Fugitives

KOMPAS/HARRY SUSILO

A copy of an electronic ID card in Joko Soegiarto Tjandra’s name issued on June 8. Joko Tjandra, a fugitive convicted in the Bank Bali corruption case, made the electronic card at the South Grogol subdistrict office on the same day he went to the South Jakarta District Court to file a an appeal with the court.

According to the widely circulated documents, Joko Tjandra is known to hold travel authorization. He departed on 19 June 2020 from Jakarta to Pontianak and returned on 22 June 2020. The mode of transportation used was airplanes. On 22 June 2020, Joko Tjandra reportedly applied for a passport at the Immigration Office in North Jakarta. Other documents and letters also spread on social media.

We encourage the National Police chief to thoroughly investigate all parties related to the Joko Tjandra case. Did Brig. Gen. Prasetijo work alone or were there some other parties participating? The National Police headquarters must investigate who actually removed Joko Tjandra\'s name from Interpol\'s fugitive list (DPO) so that he could freely visit government offices. There are a number of documents issued by the National Police circulating in public, including the result of Joko Tjandra\'s rapid test. Whether the documents circulating in public are valid and correct, the National Police must give a response.

Also read : Fugitive Hunting Not Over Yet

Lawyers are protected by Law No. 18/2003 concerning lawyers in defending clients. We hope that the lawyer organization will also investigate the possibility of violations of the code of ethics by Joko Tjandra’s lawyer. Article 16 of the Lawyers Law stipulates, "Lawyers cannot be prosecuted both under civil and criminal charges in carrying out their professional duties in good faith for the interests of the client\'s defense in court proceedings".

The Joko Tjandra case must be used as an opportunity to clean up law enforcement agencies. In order to restore public trust, all parties involved must be thoroughly disclosed.