The involvement of National Police officers in the obstruction of the investigation of Brigadier J’s murder must be disclosed. This can create a momentum for reform in the police’s internal affairs.
By
KURNIA YUNITA RAHAYU, DIAN DEWI PURNAMASARI, NORBERTUS ARYA DWIANGGA MARTIAR
·6 minutes read
JAKARTA, KOMPAS - Aside from revealing the perpetrators of the murder of Nofriansyah Yosua Hutabarat, also known as Brig. J, police investigators have also been urged to disclose the identities of police officers that attempted to obstruct the investigation. Thus far, 83 police officers have been examined and three named as suspects.
Calls to solve the case of the police officers involved arose as it showed, for one, that relations between police officers are still fraught with kinship, so much so that they cover up each other’s wrongdoings. This culture hinders the development of professionalism. Meanwhile, the police will take on tougher work, such as ensuring the security of the 2024 general elections, which has already begun.
Regarding the 83 officers that were examined, public relations head Insp. Gen. Dedi Prasetyo said on Monday (22/8/2022) that there were three police officers who have been named suspects. However, Dedi was reluctant to reveal who they were.
Additionally, 15 people are being detained at the Mobile Brigade (Brimob) detention center in Depok, West Java. This includes South Jakarta Police former chief Sr. Comr. Budhi Herdi Susianto.
When this case was first investigated by the South Jakarta Police, Budhi conveyed to the public that Nofriansyah had died in a shootout with Bhayangkara Dua (Second Agent) E or Richard Eliezer Pudihang Lumiu. This was in accordance with the story Insp. Gen. Ferdy Sambo fabricated.
Once the truth of the incident was revealed, the special police task force named Ferdy, Eliezer, Brig. Ricky Riza and Kuat Maruf who worked at Ferdy’s residence and Ferdy’s wife, Putri Candrawathi, as suspects.
According to Dedi, the National Police Special Inspectorate also examined former general crime investigation director of the Metro Jaya police, Sr. Comr. Hengki Haryadi on Friday (19/8). However, Dedi did not elaborate further on Hengki’s role in obstructing the murder investigation. “The special police task force will give the update later,” said Dedi.
[It is necessary] for the police to undergo a reformation in work culture. Police officers must be good figures, law enforcers and protectors of the community.
House of Representatives Commission III member of the Democratic Party faction, Didik Mukrianto, said in a House Commission III meeting with the National Police Commission (Kompolnas), the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) and the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) on Monday, that police officers’ involvement in the obstruction of the investigation reflected a serious issue within the police institution.
Though it may seem like nothing is out of the ordinary, such culture is so deeply ingrained that loyalty has a negative impact. This means that the police have much work to do to improve their internal affairs. “[It is necessary] for the police to undergo a reformation in work culture. Police officers must be good figures, law enforcers and protectors of the community,” said Didik.
Three-star general
At the meeting, several House Commission III members urged Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD, who was present as the head of Kompolnas, to reveal the identity of the three-star police general who threatened to resign if Ferdy was not named a suspect.
The threat, made by a commissioner general police officer, was first revealed by Mahfud during a television program in mid-August. Mahfud was reluctant to disclose the identity of the officer, claiming that he had the right not to answer. The matter will only be conveyed to the National Police chief and the President.
House Commission III deputy chairman of the NasDem party faction, Ahmad Sahroni, who chaired the meeting, even offered to temporarily close the meeting. “If we close [the meeting], will you reveal [the officer's identity], Pak?”
Mahfud was unmoved. “No, the National Police chief will answer,” he said.
Foster brother
The University of Indonesia professor of criminology law Adrianus Meliala said that a large number of police officers who were examined for alleged ethics violations in Nofriansyah’s murder case showed that the police were still attached to police culture. In police culture, familial relationships are built between officers so that they refer to each other as foster brothers and sisters.
Ferdy is believed to have a good familial approach, earning him the loyalty of many police officers. Additionally, police culture is always interwoven with a code of silence, or tendencies to cover up the mistakes of a colleague. Apart from these factors, police officers were also intimidated by Ferdy’s post as head of the police’s internal affairs.
“Ferdy’s biggest influence in the police is in his familial approach, which is still strong. By approaching them as foster brothers and sisters, the police forget their oath of office just to please their foster brother or sister. This must be resolved because it reduces the competence and professionalism of the police,” said Adrianus.
According to Adrianus, in the past, police culture was needed because officers used to work in dangerous settings that risked loss of life. Such culture was still relevant when the police shared an institution with the Indonesian Military (TNI) as the Armed Forces (ABRI).
However, in conditions with excessive budgets and human resources in the police, police culture needs to be reduced to increase professionalism. Only then can the meritocratic system work.
“The police have shown no serious efforts to reduce police culture and increase professionalism. If the momentum [created by this case] is not used to make improvements, then cases like Sambo’s will just repeat themselves,” he said.
House Commission III member of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) faction, Trimedya Panjaitan, said that the police’s reform efforts are still far from what is expected. The police tend to make their own regulations to give themselves power, which are only monitored internally. Instead of being protectors of the community, police officers only show off their high life in the community.
According to Trimedya, Nofriansyah’s murder case must be solved immediately, or at least by October. This is because the police need to move on as the political parties participating in the 2024 general elections will be determined by year-end. “Next year, the police will bear a heavy task in preparation of the legislative and presidential elections,” he said.