Policewoman Dismissed for Giving Papuan Students Packs of Liquor

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - West Java Police Chief Insp. General Rudi Sufahriadi announced that he had fired Comr. Sarce Christiaty from her position as subprecinct police chief for distributing liquor to a number of Papuan university students in Bandung.

Prior to her dismissal, Sarce underwent stringent questioning by the West Java Police's internal affairs division (Propam).

“I already questioned the police member. In the end, we agreed to deactivate the person from her position within the police institution,” said Insp. Gen. Rudi in a press conference at the Bandung Police headquarters on Friday.

Rudi also issued a formal apology to the Papuan students who were understandably offended by the incident, in which they were handed two boxes of liquor.

“We apologize to the Papuan students currently studying in Bandung for the acts done by our member who handed out liquor,” he said.

Previous reports suggested that the Papuan Student Association in Bandung refused two packs of liquor delivered by two police officers. A student named Miles C. Jikwa said the police officers in full uniforms sent the liquor Topi Koboi to the secretariat office in Cilaki, Bandung, Thursday, August 22.

According to Miles, the drinks were given when he and other students held a solidarity event at Gedung Sate, Bandung city. Miles claimed he was shocked when the officers came to deliver two packs of liquor, rice, and instant noodles to his office.

IQBAL TAWAKAL LAZUARDI (CONTRIBUTOR)