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Police Isolating Susno in Cell to Seal Off Dirty Laundry Chute, Lawyer Says
Heru Andriyanto | May 13, 2010

Susno Duadji arriving at National Police headquarters in this file photo.  (JG Photo/Safir Makki) Susno Duadji arriving at National Police headquarters in this file photo.  (JG Photo/Safir Makki)
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Comr. Gen. Susno Duadji has been cut off from the outside world, locked down in his jail cell to prevent him from dishing out further corruption allegations about the National Police brass, his lawyer said on Thursday.

“His cellphone has been seized, family visits are limited to twice a week and food from outside is banned,” attorney Mohammad Assegaf said.

Susno is currently locked up at Kelapa Dua detention facility in Depok after he was arrested on Monday for allegedly taking a bribe from suspected case broker Sjahril Djohan, related to police handling of a legal battle involving the owners of an arowana fish hatchery in Riau in 2008.

“It appears to me that the various restrictions are aimed at limiting Susno’s communication because he once said he still had more to tell beyond the Gayus scandal,” he told the Jakarta Globe. He was referring to Gayus Tambunan, a tax official who was acquitted of embezzlement charges by the Tangerang District Court after police found Rp 28 billion ($3.08 million) in his bank accounts.

Susno’s arrest came weeks after the former chief of detectives publicly revealed the Gayus scandal that has dragged down prosecutors, police officers and a judge, all of whom have been declared suspects.

“Susno is a suspect, not a convict, so based on the principle of the presumed innocence, he has the right to meet his family and his lawyers every day,” Assegaf said. “The treatment he endures from police may raise questions because Susno remains an active officer, a police general. Did he make the National Police angry as an institution?”

“I’m not saying that police are taking revenge on his whistle-blowing efforts in the Gayus scandal. The police chief [Bambang Hendarso Danuri] himself said earlier there was no revenge, and that Susno was still part of the [police] family. But I have to say that the many restrictions have discriminated against Susno,” Assegaf said.

Susno’s arrest has made headlines this week and has become a hot topic around watercoolers citywide.

Rikun, a Tangerang resident in his 60s, said he welcomed Susno’s testimony. “For me, Susno is not a perfect example of how a law officer should act. Just remember how he attempted to jail leaders of the KPK [Corruption Eradication Commission]. But at least, because of him, we know a major scandal that shook not only the police and prosecutor’s offices, but also the Finance Ministry.”

“But the police missed an opportunity with his allegations,” said Rikun, who runs a boarding house in Jatake subdistrict.

“They should have made a major overhaul inside the department; it’s a moment to rid the institution of crooked officers. Since I was born, never before have I heard a star-level policeman reveal a scandal involving his own office, and I look forward to hearing more from him. But Susno is now being detained so I don’t think he has a chance to tell other scandals.”

Yudhi, a 35-year-old employee at a property firm in West Jakarta, questioned why breaking scandals inside the National Police were followed by intensified antiterror operations with deadly raids and many arrests.

“I am only wondering whether the antiterror operations are mainly an attempt to divert public attention from any humiliating scandal inside the National Police,” he said.