Medan Police Chief, Kombes Riko Sunarko, Dismissed Over The Flow Of Funds From The Wife Of A Drug Dealer

North Sumatra Police Chief Inspector General RZ Panca Putra Simanjuntak/PHOTO: Satria H-VOI

JAKARTA - The case of the alleged flow of funds from the wife of a narcotics dealer to Medan Polrestabes officials has again claimed victims. Most recently, Kombes Riko Sunarko has been removed from the position of the Medan Police Chief.

The North Sumatran Police Chief, Inspector General of Police Panca Putra Simanjuntak has removed and temporarily appointed as the daily executive in that position, North Sumatran Regional Police Superintendent, Police Commissioner Armia Fahmi.

The removal of Sunarko was conveyed by Inspector General Panca to a number of journalists at the North Sumatra Police Headquarters, in Medan, Friday night, January 21.

He said, Sunarko was removed from his position in connection with the alleged bribery case from the wife of a drug dealer.

"Starting today, Police Commissioner Riko Sunarko is the head of the Medan Polrestabes. I am temporarily withdrawing to continue the investigation at the North Sumatra Police Propam," said Inspector General Panca accompanied by the Deputy Chief of the North Sumatra Police, Brigadier General Dadang Hartanto.

Previously, Sunarko and other Medan Polrestabes officials were threatened with strict action sanctions from the police leadership if they were proven to have accepted bribes from the wives of drug dealers.

The Head of the Public Relations Division of the Indonesian Police, Inspector General of Police Dedi Prasetyo, said that the North Sumatra Police Team was currently investigating the case. "If proven, strict action will be taken," said Dedi in Jakarta.

Currently the North Sumatra Police Team is still working to trace the truth of the information revealed from the drug trial. While waiting for the results of the examination, he said, in this case the police uphold the principle of the presumption of innocence.

"Later, the results will be submitted by the North Sumatra Police. Still, the presumption of innocence must be upheld," he said.

Previously, information on Sunarko and his staff receiving a bribe of Rp. 300 million from the wife of a drug dealer was disclosed in the testimony of Chief Brigadier Ricardo in the trial of a drug case at the Medan District Court, Wednesday (12/1).

Ricardo admitted to receiving a bribe of Rp. 300 million from the wife of a drug dealer, then the money was distributed to his superior (the head of the Medan Polrestabes).