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The words and deeds of Comr. Gen. Susno Duadji, formerly the country’s most powerful police detective, have once again prompted the National Police to form a task force. This time, however, the police will not be investigating their controversial colleague, but his claims that a number of high-ranking police officials were involved in a Rp 25 billion ($2.75 million) corruption scandal, the National Police chief said on Wednesday. 

“I have assigned the chief of detectives and the police’s professional and security division to invite Susno [for questioning on Thursday]. Whatever facts he may have had as chief detective he can explain to us. We will then openly investigate the case,” Bambang said at the Presidential Palace. 

Bambang added that if Susno’s comments were baseless, it would be the police’s “internal problem,” without elaborating. 

When asked, he said he had no plants yet to summon the top police officials accused by Susno. 

Bambang said Comr. Gen. Nanan Soekarna, the National Police’s chief of internal affairs, and National Police deputy chief Comr. Gen. Yusuf Manggabarani will head the task force. 

“This team will work to find out whether or not Pak Susno’s statements are true. If proven true, I will absolutely take firm action against my subordinates,” said Comr. Gen. Ito Soemardi, the chief of detectives and a member of the task force. 

During the recent launch of his book, Susno claimed that before he was removed from his post as chief of detectives, two police generals had received Rp 25 billion in bribe money to terminate an investigation into a tax-evasion case. 

This is not the first time Susno has made controversial allegations against top officials. Susno had suggested via a written document that a police investigation into the controversial Bank Century bailout was terminated in order to protect the election bid of Vice President Boediono. Boediono’s office has strongly denied the allegation. 

Previously, he made a surprise appearance to testify for the defense in the murder trial of Antasari Azhar, the former head of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and Susno’s former boss, in a case that Susno’s own office had investigated. 

Susno expressed dismay to the Jakarta Globe when asked about the task force assigned to investigate his latest allegations against his colleagues. 

“This is a mistake. The case should not be dealt with by internal affairs,” he said. 

“This is a purely criminal case. It should be handled by the anticorruption commission, state prosecutors or the National Police detectives. How can we solve this case if from the start a mistake has been made in regard to the team assigned to handle such a case?” 

Susno has hardly suffered since he was relieved of his post following accusations that he attempted to frame KPK officials on charges of extortion. He remains an active three-star general, albeit without any formal duties. 

Susno later made critical comments about the police force’s treatment of him to the media. He then stopped showing up for work before making his appearance to testify in the defense of Antasari. 

The court appearance, which was made without receiving permission from Bambang, led to an internal ethics investigation that was itself controversial. Two separate teams — one apparently pro-Susno and one anti-Susno — were assigned the task. 

No previous police ethics investigation had ever warranted more than a single team to investigate just one officer. 

Bambang declined to comment during the investigation. 

Reportedly well off and well-connected with political figures, Susno was once considered a role model for eliminating graft within the police force.