TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Adrianus Meliala-a member of the National Police Commission (Kompolnas)-nervously stroked his hair, scratched his face, stared at his hands and stammered when he spoke. "I never knew it would turn out so bad. What will Kompolnas do to me?" he asked.
The public was recently shocked by his statement in a television interview last month that two police officers assigned to the West Java Police Crime Unit had been indicted for the crime of gambling online. Even more astounding was his revelation that the same Crime Unit was an ATM (cash machine) for police officers. When other sections needed money, they always came to this unit for help. "Like it or not, we must admit that the police has indeed been involved in shenanigans," said Adrianus in the interview.
His statement incurred the wrath of National Police Chief, General Sutarman, who demanded that Adrianus make a public apology through the major media organizations, because his statement was seen to have affected the reputation of the police force. Adrianus agreed, making his apology in writing, in an attempt to appease the parties involved.
To say Adrianus has been affected by the incident is an understatement. "I was betrayed," Adrianus lamented to Tempo reporter Heru Triyono. During a meeting last week at the Police Academy in South Jakarta, Kompolnas commissioners discussed consolidation measures in the wake of the Adrianus case, including reducing their activities in the provinces. "I suspect the police in the provinces will treat us differently this time," said Adrianus. Excerpts of the interview:
Why did General Sutarman fly off the handle when you said that the Crime Unit had become a cash machine for the police?
That's what is so confusing. I said we, because the problem is not personal. I have no problem with the police chief myself. I'm not his enemy.
But why did he get so angry?
I think something triggered it, but we don't know what it was.
Could it be because he himself was once chief of the Crime Unit?
I don't know about that. I refuse to talk about his case anymore. It's closed.
But given the police chief's reaction, the public will suspect there must be a grain of truth in the charges.
I prefer to be silent right now, even if in doing so people say I'm a coward.
General Sutarman confessed it was the first time he ever got so mad.
That may well be, but I don't know why he suddenly got so angry. I never saw it coming.
Will the Kompolnas be taken to court?
We don't need to go in that direction. We figured, if a conflict happens, the accused and the accuser are the same people, because we are tasked to implement oversight, meaning it might backfire on us again. We should just surrender.
How do you feel?
I am confused. Here I am, tasked with overseeing and yet I've been reported [for my actions]. Of course, we are not above the law. This is why we wanted to reinforce the immunity of the Kompolnas. But this immunity must also be restricted, which means that so long as it's in line with our duties, we must have immunity. (*)
Read the full interview in this week's edition of Tempo English Magazine
