Police Chief Issues Apology Over 'Deficiencies' in Public Services

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - National Police chief, General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, on Saturday expressed his apologies for “deficiencies” in public services and issues plaguing the institution, which caused public trust in the police to plummet.

"We understand that there are deficiencies that we need to improve (in the institution). I, as the Police chief, wish to express my profound apology to the Indonesian people for our ill behavior, utterance, or performance while serving the public," Prabowo said in his year-end statement at the Police Headquarters on Saturday.

The police chief highlighted three cases that tainted the image of the police in the public eye this year—the murder of Brigadier Yosua Hutabarat at the hands of former high-ranking police officer Ferdy Sambo, the Kanjuruhan Stadium stampede, and drug cases involving high-ranking officers.

"Those cases dealt a heavy blow to our institution," he said.

Prabowo affirmed that the police have taken the necessary measures to investigate the cases and brought all police officers involved to book.

Following the investigation into the murder of Brigadier Hutabarat, five suspects were charged with premeditated murder and six other police officers were charged with obstruction of justice, he informed.

The police also declared former West Sumatra Police head, Inspector General Teddy Minahasa, five police officers, and five civilians as suspects in drug crimes, the police chief noted.

"(Firm actions) demonstrated our commitment to zero-tolerance against drug cases. Hence, anyone involved, no matter their rank, will be charged. This is our commitment to eradicating drug-related and other cases," Prabowo emphasized.

Meanwhile, the police also named three police officers and three other individuals as suspects in the October 2022 Kanjuruhan Stadium tragedy, he said, adding that the case files of five of the suspects have been handed over to the prosecution.

In the year-end release, the police chief also informed that the 53-percent public confidence level in the agency in October 2022, according to survey agency Lembaga Survei Indonesia, has increased to 62.4 percent, as per a survey conducted by Charta Politika in December 2022.

ANTARA

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