Indonesian senior policeman quits amid rising anger over junior officer’s murder scandal
- Ferdy Sambo is a suspect in the killing of a junior cop, whose death was initially portrayed by the police as a result of a gunfight with another officer
- Several officers have been suspended over the case and some politicians had called for the resignation of the national police chief
The scandal is widely seen as a major setback for the national police force that has been trying to regain public trust following long-standing complaints of corruption and brutality.
The police chief of internal affairs Ferdy Sambo submitted his resignation though that is still being assessed, said the head of the national police force Listyo Sigit Prabowo at a parliamentary hearing on Wednesday. Listyo did not elaborate on the reasons for the resignation.
Ferdy was named a suspect and charged with the premeditated murder of a junior officer, whose death was initially portrayed by the police as a result of a gunfight with another officer. The junior police officer Nofriansyah Yosua Hutabarat was Sambo’s bodyguard and accused of sexually assaulting his wife at their residence, the police had previously claimed.
Widodo urges ‘transparent’ probe as murder case rocks faith in Indonesian police
Several officers have since been suspended over the case and some politicians are calling for the resignation of the national police chief.
Nofriansyah’s family have refused to accept the police’s initial explanation for the death.
They hired lawyers and demanded for an independent inquiry after they discovered bruises on his body that suggested torture could have taken place before his death. Photos of Nofriansyah’s wounds were circulated on social media, triggering public sympathy and demands for justice.
As investigations deepen, a total of 97 officers have been rounded up for alleged ethics breaches and tampering with the crime scene. It was also revealed that Ferdy and other high-ranking officers were allegedly involved in an illegal gambling business, according to the police.
