Legislators Highlight Sanctioned Officers Allegedly Due To Revealing Fuel Mafia: Like In Movies, Good Police Are Tackled

Photo by Tusik Only on Unsplash

JAKARTA - Police officers, Inspector Dua (Ipda) Rudy Soik received a code of ethics sanction from the institution that oversees him allegedly due to revealing the subsidized fuel oil mafia (BBM) in NTT. Commission III of the DPR RI asked for clarity from the Police regarding this case for justice and so as not to cause public suspicion.

"This problem needs to be a concern because it is too thick with the nuances of manipulation," said Member of Commission III Gilang Dhielafararez, Friday, September 6.

This problem began with the disclosure that there was an allegation that a police officer with the rank of Bripka A was involved in the diesel fuel mafia which was brought to the RI-RDTL Border Area (Republic Democratic Timor Leste) for the benefit of the APBN project. The subsidized fuel smuggled into Timor Leste was the result of hoarding the collectors who were backed by police officers in NTT.

The case has been confirmed by the Kupang City Resort Police, NTT in July 2024. Based on this case, Rudy Soik, who was then an investigator at the Special Criminal Directorate of the East Nusa Tenggara Police, carried out his duties to investigate and investigate the BBM mafia.

Rudy Soik even received an investigation task order from the Head of Kupang City Police, Kombes Aldinan Manurung. However, the NTT Police stated that there was a procedural and unprofessional error in the investigation carried out by Rudy and the team. The sanctions he received were also on charges of karaoke with people's wives, in this case the policewomen who served at the NTT Police.

Rudy Soik himself admitted that the sanction he received was character assassination because he revealed the involvement of police officers at the NTT Regional Police in a mafia network that caused the scarcity of subsidized fuel in North Central Timor Regency (TTU), Belu, Kupang City, and even the Labuan Bajo tourist area. Subsidized fuel that is scarce in NTT is known to have occurred for quite a long time.

Rudy, who was having lunch with his team at a karaoke place, was visited by the NTT Police Professional and Security Division just hours after taking action against the subsidized fuel mafia perpetrators. He invited his team's lunch in the context of analysis and evaluation (anev) related to the subsidized BBM mafia action.

The NTT Regional Police questioned Rudy because he had lunch at a karaoke place with two policewomen, even though at that time there were also other subordinates. Even some of his subordinates who will take part in lunch are prohibited from entering by Propam who suddenly take action against Rudy. Karaoke Master Piece, which is the location for Rudy's lunch and the team, is also known to be visited by Bhayangkari's mothers to eat together.

Gilang asked that this issue be investigated transparently, especially since there were allegations of a dispute between Rudy Soik and the ranks of the NTT Regional Police regarding issues that were directly related to the interests of the community.

"It is reasonable to suspect what Rudy Soik said regarding the character assassination for him to be true. For reasons of imposing sanctions, I think it is too far-fetched, because there are other members of the National Police at the karaoke restaurant," he said.

"Commission III of the DPR will participate in overseeing this problem considering that the Police are our partners. In common sense, we can see that there is an attempt to tackle Rudy Soik's brother who is carrying out his duties in investigating the subsidized fuel mafia network," continued Gilang.

Gilang assessed that what Rudy Soik had done was supposed to be supported and protected by the Police, instead of being punished because the crime of the BBM mafia could harm the community.

"This is really ironic, the police like Rudy Soik should be supported and protected, not even subject to a demotion sentence. What is this? Is it because the alleged police officer involved in the fuel mafia is true?" said the legislator from the Central Java II electoral district.

"The courage to reveal the truth must be supported and not punished, so that justice can really be upheld in Indonesia," continued Gilang.

Gilang underlined that Rudy Soik was subject to sanctions when the subsidized fuel smuggling case began to be uncovered and found a bright spot, including any official to an entrepreneur with the initials HT who was suspected of being involved in this fuel mafia network.

"And the punishment for demotion of Rudy Soik outside NTT who became a locus (place) for violations actually raises questions. It is as if the person concerned was deliberately kept away from investigating this case," said Gilang.

The demonstration is the reduction in positions, facilities, and salaries given to an employee or member of the police or known for their demotion. Not only that, Rudy Soik must apologize verbally to the National Police institution and the disadvantaged parties, as well as administrative sanctions in the form of special placements for 14 days and mutations of demotion outside the NTT Regional Police for three years, namely to the Papua Police.

Even so, Rudy Soik fought back and stated that he was ready to open up. Rudy Soik admitted that he had pocketed a lot of evidence, including the involvement of police officers in the subsidized fuel mafia network which was said to have existed in NTT for a long time. Gilang supports Rudy Soik to reveal his findings.

"We certainly support the work carried out by law enforcement, especially this is related to the interests of the people. I am sure that the people of NTT also want the investigation of this case to be continued," he said.

According to Rudy Soik, there are many irregularities in the investigation into the eradication of the fuel mafia in NTT. In addition to the code of ethics sanctions he received, as many as 12 of his members were involved in the prosecution of all subsidized fuel cases transferred outside the Kupang Police.

"This raises a big question, why are law enforcers actually uncovering cases of punishment? Rudy's courage against his own institution also shows that there are many problems within the police in NTT," explained Gilang.

Gilang said that Rudy Soik's commitment and courage in upholding justice for the people in the midst of the rampant practice of the BBM mafia which damages the welfare and economy of the people should receive support, especially since Rudy Soik is known as one of the outstanding Polri officers.

"Now because of unclear problems that seem made up to bring down Rudy's brother, the subsidized fuel mafia is free to roam around. The insensitivity of the NTT Police in this case, which focuses on other things, must be a question," he explained.

What is happening here? Is there any structural injustice that protects the interests of certain groups and sacrifices the public interest? Gilang continued.

Commission III of the House of Representatives in charge of legal affairs considers that this case is not only related to individual problems but also shows an indication of systematic failure in law enforcement. Gilang said this was a fundamental problem in law enforcement in Indonesia.

"If law enforcement officers who try to uphold justice are punished, then what can the people expect? Does this mean that our law only protects those who have personal power and interests, while the marginalized people continue to suffer?" he said.

"This is a problem for the people who are being defended, you know. This is like in films, the police are good at being tackled when exposing crimes involving powerful elements," added Gilang.

Gilang also asked the National Police Headquarters to intervene to solve the problem of Rudy Soik vs Polda NTT.

"I ask the leadership of the National Police to show their dignity to help overcome this problem. The leadership of the National Police must be neutral and defend the right party," he said.

According to Gilang, law enforcement institutions must also conduct an in-depth evaluation of the Rudy Soik case.

Justice must be enforced properly in Indonesia. The law must be able to protect those who protect the people and must be able to ensnare the wrong actors and harm the people," said Gilang.

Gilang also asked the National Police to follow up on the handling of the BBM mafia case in NTT because it was reported that this case had not been handled and evaporated. It is even suspected that the evidence (BB) deposited at the North Central Timor Police in the form of 1 Mitsubshi L300 car and 1,800 liters of kerosene stored in 9 drums measuring 200 liters and one car key has also disappeared.

"The good name of the National Police is at stake in this matter. I ask law enforcement to immediately follow up so that no community is harmed. Do not let law enforcers allow bad people to commit fraud for personal gain or a small group," he ordered.

On the other hand, the Government is also asked to be actively involved in the investigation of the subsidized fuel smuggling case. Because the smuggling problem that causes the scarcity of subsidized fuel can also occur due to a lack of supervision from the Government.

"Imagine, subsidized fuel that should be for the small people of Indonesia can reach Timor Leste. How much money does the state waste and how many of our people have been harmed by this case?" Gilang said.

The government is also expected to be able to carry out structural reforms in the process of distributing and supervising subsidized fuel, especially in the regions. Gilang also hopes that the community will participate in overseeing this issue and ask the authorities to report it to the authorities if they find fraud.

"And so that people believe in state administrators, the National Police and other law enforcers, as well as related institutions must be able to show their integrity and professionalism so that the people are not reluctant to report any violation practices," he concluded.