Jakarta – Former Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) senior investigator Novel Baswedan says that allegations that there is a gambling and narcotics group within the Indonesian police is just the tip of the iceberg.
"Reports related to the police, which can be seen at the moment for example, that there are allegations related to a certain group which controls gambling or narcotics, this is part of corruption within law enforcement", said Baswedan during an online discussion on Saturday August 27.
He then said, "I'm sure it's just like the phenomenon of an iceberg, where underneath it's much bigger".
The issue of a gambling group within the Indonesian police has become a subject of public discussing after reports emerged about the Consortium 303 which allegedly backs online gambling and narcotics. The consortium reportedly involves many police officers.
Furthermore, Baswedan explained that such problems not only occur in the police, but also in other law enforcement agencies. If law enforcement is problematic, he said, then human rights are also affected, and it is not just a matter of injustice.
"The protection of human rights, there will certainly be a lot of problems there", reiterated Baswedan.
Baswedan then encouraged the authorities to make efforts to eradicate corruption in the inner circles of law enforcement agencies. According to Baswedan, these kinds of efforts need to be carried out and are important to articulate.
The issue of the Consortium 303 raised its head when police were investigating former Professionalism and Security Affairs Division Chief (Kadiv Propam) Inspector General Ferdy Sambo over the murder of Brigadier Nofriansyah Yosua Hutabarat alias Brigadier J.
Based on a graphic which has been circulating on social media, Sambo is part of the top leadership of Consortium 303. Aside from Sambo, a number of other police officers are also included in the graphic.
National police chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo meanwhile has said that they are in the process of delving onto the issue of the Consortium 303 which has ensnared Sambo.
"Regarding the issue of the chats that emerged as to whether or not it is true that emperor Sambo and his gang are linked to the consortium issue, likewise also with other chats, we are currently delving into them", explained Prabowo during a hearing with the House of Representatives Commission III in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday August 24.
He then said, "So I have asked the Propam to delve into it". (isa/bac)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Novel Baswedan Sebut Isu Konsorsium 303 Fenomena Gunung Es di Polri".]
