Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — The legal counsel for Arif Nugroho, the son of a top executive at Indonesian healthcare company Prodia, has made explosive allegations of police extortion related to his client’s ongoing legal troubles. Romi Sihombing, Nugroho’s attorney, claimed that senior officers from the South Jakarta Metro Police, including South Jakarta Police Chief Commissioner Ade Rahmat Idnal, received illicit payments totaling approximately Rp17.1 billion (about $1.1 million) to influence the outcome of Nugroho’s murder and sexual assault case.
Sihombing detailed these allegations in a press briefing on Saturday, naming former South Jakarta Criminal Investigation Unit heads AKBP Bintoro and AKBP Gogo Galesung as key figures implicated in the scandal. The funds, according to Sihombing, were funneled through direct payments and the sale of high-value luxury assets, including a Lamborghini, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, and a BMW, to cover the hefty bribes.
“These funds were distributed among various law enforcement officials within the South Jakarta Police. They reached unit heads, senior investigators, and even high-ranking leadership,” Sihombing said. “The total amount disbursed by my client has reached Rp17.1 billion.”
The Alleged Bribery Scheme
The legal saga began when Nugroho was charged alongside Muhammad Bayu Hartanto in connection with a high-profile murder and sexual assault case. Initially, Nugroho was represented by attorney Evelin Dohar Hutagalung, who allegedly played a pivotal role in establishing contact with police officials to negotiate leniency in the case.
According to Sihombing, these negotiations led to a covert agreement involving significant financial transactions. Witnesses reportedly observed meetings where senior police officials acknowledged receiving payments.
“There are witnesses who can testify to meetings where admissions were made about these funds reaching senior police officials,” Sihombing stated.
The bribes were purportedly intended to secure the issuance of a Surat Penghentian Penyidikan Perkara (SP3), an official document used in Indonesia to halt criminal investigations.
“The goal was to terminate the case with an SP3,” Sihombing explained. “It’s inconceivable to spend Rp17 billion without expecting the case to be dropped.”
Money Trail and Legal Action
Sihombing claimed that payments flowed both directly from Nugroho to police officials and indirectly through intermediaries, including his former attorney, Evelin. The list of alleged recipients extends beyond Bintoro and Gogo, implicating unit heads identified only by the initials Z and M, with Commissioner Ade Rahmat Idnal allegedly receiving a significant portion of the funds.
These revelations have prompted Nugroho’s legal team to expand their legal countermeasures. They have filed a lawsuit at the South Jakarta District Court, aiming to revise their complaint to include additional defendants, notably the South Jakarta Police Chief.
“With the new evidence we have gathered, we intend to amend our lawsuit to formally name the police chief as a defendant,” Sihombing confirmed.
Broader Implications for Law Enforcement
This case underscores ongoing concerns about corruption within Indonesia’s law enforcement agencies. Despite numerous reforms, the Indonesian National Police has faced persistent allegations of bribery, abuse of power, and lack of accountability. The involvement of high-ranking officials in such a scandal could further erode public trust in the judicial system.
Observers note that while Indonesia has made strides in combating corruption through institutions like the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), cases like this highlight the entrenched challenges that remain, particularly within the police force.
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As of now, neither Commissioner Ade Rahmat Idnal nor the other officials named in Sihombing’s allegations have publicly responded to the claims. The Indonesian National Police headquarters has yet to issue an official statement, and it remains unclear whether internal investigations will be launched in response to these accusations.
The public and legal communities are closely watching developments in this case, which could have far-reaching consequences for police accountability in Indonesia. For Nugroho, however, the stakes are deeply personal, as his legal battle now intertwines with a broader fight against alleged corruption within the very system meant to uphold justice.
(Becky)
