TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko has dismissed rumors saying President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is establishing a Solo squad in the top leadership of the National Police.

According to Moeldoko, the President appointed people who had proved their loyalty and borne the capacity and integrity to serve in strategic positions.

“It is impossible to put an indecent person in a very strategic post,” said Moeldoko at his office, December 23.

The allegations were initially made by the Indonesia Police Watch following the appointment of West Nusa Tenggara Police Chief Insp. Gen. Nana Sudjana as the Jakarta Metro Police Chief. Nana served as the Solo Police Chief when Joko Widodo was the city's mayor.

In addition to Nana, the appointment of Insp. Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo as the police’s head of criminal investigation unit or Bareskrim also gained the public spotlight.

Moeldoko opined it was acceptable that people who were previously close to Jokowi were now serving in strategic posts with regard to their loyalty, capacity, and integrity.

“Like when I served as the military commander, I surely knew the people who used to work with me and had great achievements, so I could possibly appoint them as my assistants,” Moeldoko said.

DEWI NURITA