Jakarta (Antara Babel) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) announced here on Friday evening the appointment of Deputy Chief of National Police Commissioner General Badrodin Haiti as acting police chief.
At the same time, the President has postponed the appointment of Commissioner General Budi Gunawan as national police chief in view of the legal complications that have emerged.
"I signed two presidential decrees this afternoon," the President pointed out.
"The first decree is for the honorable discharge of general Sutarman and the second decree is about the assignment of Com. Gen. Badrodin Haiti to carry out the duties and responsibilities of Police Chief," Jokowi pointed out.
When asked about the appointment of Com. Gen. Budi Gunawan as national police chief, the President said it (the appointment) has been postponed because it has yet to pass some legal processes.
"The processes that have been completed until now include Com. Gen. Budi Gunawan's selection by the National Police Commission, the sending of a letter to the House of Representatives (DPR), and the DPR'S approval for the letter. Com. Gen. Budi Gunawan is currently going through legal processes. We underline that we have decided to only postpone his appointment and not cancel it," Jokowi explained.
Earlier, Jokowi announced Commissioner General Budi Gunawan as the only candidate for Police Chief. The announcement soon sparked a controversy as several days later, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named Budi Gunawan suspect in a bribery case.
"Commissioner General BG (Budi Gunawan) has been named suspect for allegedly receiving commitments when he headed the Police Headquarters' Career Planning Bureau in 2003-2006 and other posts in the police," KPK's Chairman Abraham Samad said.
According to Abraham, Budi Gunawan allegedly violated Article 12 (A/B); Article 5 (2); and Article 11 or 12, (B), of Law No.31/1999 juncto Law No.20/2001 on corruption eradication juncto Article 55 (1) of Criminal Code.
The articles regulate that no civil servant or state official should receive gratifications or commitments from any party or individual who is related to a civil servant or holds a state official's post.
Budi Gunawan can get a life imprisonment or four to 20 years in jail and a fine of at least Rp200 million (Rp1 billion) if he is found guilty of violating the articles, Samad stated.
He, however, refused to reveal Budi Gunawan's bank balance.
