Djoko's assets indicate massive graft at RI police

JAKARTA. Anti-graft watchdogs suspect that graft suspect Insp. Gen. Djoko Susilo, former chief of the National Traffic Police Corps (Korlantas), amassed his assets from other corruption-ridden projects within the force.

Over the past fortnight, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) seized numerous assets from Djoko, including luxurious houses and vehicles in Jakarta, West Java, Central Java and Bali

On Monday, the KPK seized a villa, constructed on 25-hectare plot in Subang, West Java. Several media outlets reported that Djoko had built a small zoo for exotic animals inside the compound.

Over the weekend, the KPK seized a house in Harvestland upmarket housing complex located on Jl. Raya Kuta, Bali, and a 7,000-meter plot of land in Tabanan, Bali. The two-story house is approximately worth more than Rp 4 billion (US$ 412,072).

Djoko was the first serving senior police officer to be arrested and charged with corruption and money laundering for his role in the graft-ridden Rp 200 billion driving simulator procurement project at Korlantas.

KPK spokesman Johan Budi said that the anti-graft body had also seized four cars, six tour buses and three gas stations that belonged to the two-star general.

“The total value of seized assets belonging to DS [Djoko Susilo] is between Rp 60 and 70 billion,” Johan said. 

In 2010, Djoko stated in his wealth report that his assets were worth Rp 5.6 billion.

The chairman of the Indonesian Police Watch (IPW), Neta S. Pane, said that Djoko had an obscenely excessive amount of wealth for a two-star police general.

“His monthly salary was below Rp 4 million. If we combine this with benefits, his total take-home pay was around Rp 15 million per month,” he told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday. 

Emerson Yuntho of Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) said the seizure of Djoko’s wealth could pave the way for the KPK to uncover bigger corruption cases inside the force.

“I reckon that the KPK is collecting evidence for other cases, other than the simulator procurement scandal,” he told the Post, referring to the suspicious “fat” bank accounts of several high-ranking police officers. 

Meanwhile, Djoko’s lawyer, Juniver Girsang, lambasted the KPK’s continued effort to hunt for his client’s assets. He said that the anti-graft body was only authorized to confiscate assets that were purchased in 2011, the time when Djoko handled the procurement project.

“The KPK’s move to seize Djoko’s assets amassed before 2011 is not relevant to the corruption charges. We are preparing our next legal move, we believe the KPK is going beyond its authority,” Juniver said on Monday.

Emerson said that the KPK could ignore Juniver’s complaints. 

“Under the Money Laundering Law, the KPK can seize any assets that come from corrupt practice,” he said.

(Yuliasri Perdani/The Jakarta Post)