http://thejakartaglobe.com/home/susno-in-new-row-after-antasari-trial-spectacle/351505
January 08, 2010 Farouk Arnaz The National Police's former chief of detectives, Comr. Gen. Susno Duadji, at the South Jakarta District Court on Thursday. Susno was called as a witness for the defense in the trial of Antasari Azhar. (JG Photo/Afriadi Hikmal) Susno in New Row After Antasari Trial Spectacle It appears that luck has run out for the nation's most disliked police officer. Having weathered a storm of controversies, Comr. Gen. Susno Duadji may have crossed the line on Thursday when he made a shock appearance to testify in the murder trial of Antasari Azhar - not for the prosecution, but for the defense. National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Edward Aritonang immediately condemned the controversial appearance as a "forbidden" act. "Please believe us that we will take firm action against him for allegedly breaching our code of ethics and professional conduct," Aritonang said during a hastily convened news conference. "The Internal Affairs Division will deal with him internally, most likely starting next week." He said Susno could be dishonorably discharged if he was proven to have breached the police's code of ethics and rules of professional conduct. "Any member of the police must obey every command and obey the leadership of official orders," Aritonang said. "Today, Susno came to court without permission, and that cannot be justified, even though he claimed he was testifying in a personal capacity only." Aritonang said police would not intervene in the ongoing trial of Antasari, the former head of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). "I don't want to comment on what Pak Susno said during his testimony in court. I will just say that he violated our rules by going to court as there is no legal letter from the court to invite Susno as a witness." In an interview with Metro TV on Thursday evening, Susno said: "I am a three-star general. I know the rules and the code of ethics. If they fire me, it's because they dislike me." The beleaguered officer, recently passed over for the National Police deputy chief post, was a surprise witness for Antasari in his trial at the South Jakarta District Court for the murder of businessman Nasrudin Zulkarnaen. Susno told the court the police investigation team had earlier failed to find any motive on which to impose the murder charge. "I found out after they came to me and told me about the problem. The team was under the supervision of the deputy chief of detectives, who reported directly to the police chief," said Susno, who at the time held the position of chief of detectives. Susno was recently removed from his post amid public outrage over an alleged plot to bring down KPK deputy chairmen Chandra M Hamzah and Bibit Samad Rianto. The conspiracy was allegedly motivated by a KPK investigation into details of the PT Bank Century scandal, which implicated Susno in alleged corruption. Despite massive publicity, calls for his resignation and recommendations from a special presidential team that the legal process against Susno be completed, he survived an internal police investigation, though he was demoted to a senior staff position within National Police headquarters. Andrianus Meliala, a police science lecturer at the University of Indonesia, said the National Police's quick response to Susno's testimony was a signal that they were having difficulties handling him. "I see that Susno understands how weak the police are in controlling him," he said. "The National Police realize this and will take firm action in an attempt to control him." In the trial, prosecutors questioned Susno's appearance as a witness, demanding that he produce a permit from the police chief authorizing the court appearance, especially since he came in his work uniform. The panel of judges ruled that the hearing would hear Susno's testimony. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
