Kompolnas Reminds of Dismissal and Criminal Sanctions for Police Who Use Drugs

Kompolnas encourages police investigations suspected of being involved in drugs to be carried out professionally and transparently to the public.

KOMPAS

Former Chief of the West Sumatra Regional Police Inspector General Teddy Minahasa has been convicted guilty in a drug case, specifically for exchanging evidence of methamphetamine with alum. Teddy was sentenced to life imprisonment by the panel of judges at the West Jakarta District Court on Tuesday (May 9th, 2023).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The National Police Commission is concerned because there are police officers who are suspected of abusing drugs. Kompolnas asked Polri to take firm action with criminal sanctions and ethical sanctions in the form of dismissal.

In mid-April 2024, five police officers were arrested on suspicion of using narcotics. They were Briptu FAR, Briptu IR, Brigadir DW, Briptu FQ, and Brigadir PR. Four of them were assigned to the Narcotics Investigation Directorate of the Jakarta Metro Police Department, while the other was from the Narcotics Investigation Unit of the East Jakarta Metro Police Resort.

In South Sumatra, the Ogan Komering Ilir Regional Police are investigating the case of Police Officer Briptu L from the Padamaran Police Sector who is suspected of using crystal meth.

A member of the National Police Commission (Kompolnas), Poengky Indarti, expressed concern and regret on Tuesday (7/5/2024) regarding allegations of police officers misusing drugs. The recent case is seen as adding to the long list of drug-related cases involving police officers, such as drug abuse, drug trafficking, becoming a drug dealer's accomplice, and becoming a drug lord.

KOMPAS/YOLA SASTRA

Kompolnas member, Poengky Indarti, when met in Padang, West Sumatra, Monday (27/3/2023).

Regarding the five police officers from the Jakarta Metro Police, the National Police Commission has sent a clarification letter to the Jakarta Metro Police to inquire about the case and its handling. "If a member dares to consume narcotics, then they are no longer worthy of being trusted as a member of the Indonesian National Police," said Poengky.

Also read: Different fates of former police officers caught in drug cases

According to Poengky, a police officer should carry out his duties, namely serving, protecting, protecting the community, and enforcing law, rather than breaking the law. This becomes even more worrying when the police are involved in drugs which are a common enemy.

Therefore, the National Police Commission urges that examinations of police officers suspected of involvement in drug abuse be conducted professionally and transparently to the public to maintain institutional accountability. Such examinations are necessary to probe the origin of how the perpetrators obtained narcotics and the alleged connection to drug networks.

They also need to be examined for possible drug use based on the evidence from drug cases. If any of it is proven, Kompolnas requests that the perpetrators be charged with criminal and police ethics articles. For the criminal process, the charged article needs to be layered, including the aggravation of punishment article because they are law enforcement officials.

"If it is true that four perpetrators come from the Drug Enforcement Unit of Metro Jaya Regional Police and one person from the Drug Enforcement Unit of East Jakarta Police, this is truly ironic," said Poengky.

Also read: Propam Polda Metro Jaya Examines 5 Police Officers Caught in Drug Cases in Depok

KOMPAS/DIAN DEWI PURNAMASARI

The Drug Crime Directorate of the Indonesian National Police disclosed a drug case from September 2023 to May 2024, on Monday (6/5/2024). During that period, the police confiscated 1.78 tons of crystal meth, one of which was packed in a milk creamer can.

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In addition to the perpetrator, according to Poengky, their superiors should also be investigated because they have the task of supervising their subordinates. When a police officer commits a violation or a crime, their immediate supervisor must also be held accountable for failing to supervise their subordinates.

"For those who are suspected to be involved, firm steps in the form of criminal sanctions with maximum punishment and maximum ethical sanctions in the form of dismissal are expected to have a deterrent effect," said Poengky.

Indonesia Police Watch (IPW) Chairman Sugeng Teguh Santoso believes that the case of five police officers from the Jakarta Metro Police suspected of drug abuse is considered the tip of the iceberg of police officers who abuse drugs. He suspects that the number of police officers abusing drugs is even higher.

Also read: Drugs are increasingly sold in food packaging, society is increasingly threatened

According to Sugeng, this phenomenon may continue to exist. In this context, the police become victims of drug abuse.

“Drugs have infiltrated police officers. "This means that drug eradication actions must be extra extraordinary because, I suspect, drugs are circulating very massively in society," said Sugeng.

KOMPAS/NORBERTUS ARYA DWIANGGA MARTIAR

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Therefore, it is expected that the Indonesian National Police strengthen early detection systems for its members who misuse or use narcotics. Because, once they use narcotics, it is not impossible for police officers to become drug dealers or work together with drug traffickers.

Furthermore, according to Sugeng's observations, police officers who use narcotics are mostly those ranked from non-commissioned officers to first-level officers. This indicates that lower-ranking police officers appear vulnerable to misuse or use of narcotics.

Also read: TPPU Recidivist Returns Control of International Drug Network

This needs to be explored in relation to work pressure, weak mentality, or the possibility of scenarios from drug dealers who deliberately target police officers.

"This network is mocking the police, that your members can be infiltrated by using drugs," said Sugeng.

KOMPAS/DIAN DEWI PURNAMASARI

Director of Narcotics Crime, Bareskrim Polri, Brigadier General (Pol) Mukti Juharsa during a press conference at Bareskrim Polri, Monday (6/5/2024).

Sugeng hopes that strict and firm action will be taken against the perpetrators. For drug users, the police officers must be rehabilitated. For drug dealers, Sugeng asks that they be prosecuted. One thing is clear, ethical sanctions must still be applied to both.

Separately, Director of Narcotics Crimes at the Criminal Investigation Agency of the Indonesian National Police Brigadier General Mukti Juharsa stated that they will not discriminate against police officers who are suspected of abusing narcotics. For the ranks in the Criminal Investigation Agency, they will conduct sudden urine tests.

If there are police officers who are proven to misuse drugs, according to Mukti, they should be given strict sanctions in the form of dismissal. "What is important now is that we must first be self-aware. We will continue to carry out operations without discrimination," said Mukti.