Witness Protection For Inspector General Ferdy Sambo's Wife, Putri Candrawati, Is No Longer Necessary

JAKARTA - Less than a week after the death of Brigadier Nofriansyah Yoshua Hutabarat (Brigadir J) or to be precise on July 14, 2022, Putri Candrawathi, wife of Inspector General Ferdy Sambo had applied for protection to the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK). Protection related to Putri as a victim of sexual harassment by Brigadier J.

However, up to three weeks after the submission, Putri did not provide information regarding the incident she experienced to LPSK. The assessment of the 49-year-old woman, according to the head of LPSK Hasto Atmojo, had been carried out twice but without success.

“It seems that Ibu Putri is depressed and there is a serious trauma. We also had time to bring a psychiatrist to the first assessment," said Hasto to VOI, Friday (12/8).

Even now, the situation is not much different. LPSK is still difficult to ask for information from Putri. In fact, Putri Candrawati did not ask for assistance from LPSK regarding the trauma she experienced as a result of sexual harassment.

“We are so surprised, is this lady really really applying for protection? Is it Mrs. Putri's own intention or is there someone who recommends it? Or did someone make that submission? We don't know. It is also reported that Mrs. Putri already has a personal psychologist. I think it's enough for a psychologist, there's no need for LPSK," said Hasto.

"The name is LPSK, if there is a police report, and there are victims who ask us for protection, we will definitely respond. Either protection from physical threats or other protection. But there have been no results," Hasto added.

As a result, Putri Candrawati's status is still an LPSK applicant.

According to Hasto, the sexual harassment case experienced by Putri is a sensitive case considering that Putri Candrawati is the wife of a high-ranking National Police officer. Especially now, after the Timsus Polri has named Inspector General Ferdy Sambo as a suspect.

"I remember when the LPSK team met Inspector General Ferdy Sambo at the Propam Office on July 13, 2022. At that time, Pak Ferdy Sambo talked about filing a protection application for Bharada E and his wife," said Hasto.

After a meeting with Inspector General Ferdy Sambo while waiting for Bharada E's arrival, suddenly a staff member gave him a folder in which there were 2 brown envelopes.

"This is a gift from you to be shared by the two of you," said Hasto imitating the staff's words. However, the LPSK team did not want to accept it, "Please just return it while again handing the folder back to the staff."

The head of Komnas Perempuan, Andi Yentriyani, could not talk much about Putri Candrawati's condition. On July 16, 2022, Andi admitted that he had met Putri but there was no information yet. Putri's condition is in a state of shock and depression.

"It's the same right now. Psychology is still up and down. To be sure, we are still coordinating with Komnas HAM. In essence, we welcome and certainly support efforts to uncover this case. Including, supporting her (Mrs. Putri) examination process," Andi told VOI, Friday (12/8).

Regarding the ongoing case disclosure process, Andi believes that it does not necessarily weaken Putri Candrawati's position.

“Although they may be related, these are two different cases. One murder case, another sexual harassment case he reported," he said.

However, a surprise came, the National Police Criminal Investigation Unit decided to stop handling cases of alleged sexual harassment that had been reported by Putri Candrawati on July 9, 2022.

Putri Candrawathi's complaint is contained in the Police Report (LP) numbered LP: B/1630/VII/2022/SPKT/South Jakarta Metro Police Polda Metro Jaya.

"We stopped the investigation because no criminal element was found. It was not a criminal incident," said the Director of General Crimes at the Indonesian National Police, Brigadier General Andi Rian Djajadi, at a press conference at the National Police Headquarters, Friday (12/8).

The chairman of Indonesia Police Watch (IPW) Sugeng Teguh Santoso hopes that the police can further explore the role of Putri Candrawati in the case of Brigadier J's murder.

"It is better to investigate further. It could be that what Putri reported was a false report to the police," he said when contacted, Friday (12/8).

Through his lawyer, Arman Hanis, Inspector General Ferdy Sambo delivered an open letter containing an apology for conveying wrong information. Ferdy Sambo admitted that he had engineered the shooting case of Brigadier J.

The letter was read by Arman Hanis on Thursday (11/8). Here are the contents:

Allow me as a human being who cannot be separated from my mistakes, sincerely apologize and apologize profusely, especially to my colleagues from the National Police and their families and the wider community who were affected by my actions that provided incorrect information and sparked a polemic in the Duren Tiga case. family and I.

I will comply with every legal process that is currently underway and later in court I will be responsible for it.

I am the head of the family and it is purely my intention to maintain and protect the dignity and honor of the family that I love very much.

To the institution that I am proud of, the National Police, and in particular to the Chief of the Indonesian National Police, who I greatly respect, I apologize and in particular to my colleagues from the Police who have been directly affected by this case, I apologize.

Once again I apologize for the various interpretations and delivery of information that is dishonest and injures public trust in the Polri institution.

Allow me to be responsible for all the actions that I have done according to the applicable law.