President Jokowi Announces Acting Police Chief

Jakarta (Antara) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) announced here on Friday evening the appointment of Deputy Chief of National Police Commissioner General Badrodin Haiti as acting police chief. At the same time, the President has postponed the appointment of Commissioner General Budi Gunawan as national police chief in view of the legal complications that have emerged. "I signed two presidential decrees this afternoon," the President pointed out. "The first decree is for the honorable discharge of general Sutarman and the second decree is about the assignment of Com. Gen. Badrodin Haiti to carry out the duties and responsibilities of Police Chief," Jokowi pointed out. When asked about the appointment of Com. Gen. Budi Gunawan as national police chief, the President said it (the appointment) has been postponed because it has yet to pass some legal processes. "The processes that have been completed until now include Com. Gen. Budi Gunawan's selection by the National Police Commission, the sending of a letter to the House of Representatives (DPR), and the DPR'S approval for the letter. Com. Gen. Budi Gunawan is currently going through legal processes. We underline that we have decided to only postpone his appointment and not cancel it," Jokowi explained. (*)