LAMPUNG POLICE CHIEF SUSPENDED OVER GAYUS FISCAL MAFIA CASE

Jakarta, Apr 2 (ANTARA) - Lampung provincial police chief Brig Gen Edmon Ilyas has been suspended from his position to facilitate an investigation into his suspected involvement in the Gayus Tambunan fiscal mafia case.

National Police Chief General Bambang Herdarso Danuri made the announcement to newsmen after performing Friday prayers at the National Police Headquarters' mosque here.

He said Ilyas's suspension would not disrupt the Lampung police's daily activities.

Another police officer would take Ilyas's position in Lampung until his investigation process was completed. The transfer of the the Lampung police chief's duties would take place on Sunday, Danuri said.

Besides replacing Ilyas, the national police chief had also suspended Commissioner Arafat, a middle-ranking officer of the National Police Headquarters' special economic investigation directorate.

However, Brigadier General Radja Erizman, whose name was also mentioned by former chief detective Commissioner General Susno Duadji among those involved in Gayus Tambunan's case, was not yet suspended.

Gayus Tambunan himself was being questioned by an independent police investigation soon after his arrival here on Wednesday afternoon from Singapore where he had been hiding for a week.

Chief of the police detective unit Commissioner General Ito Sumardi said the independent investigation team set up by the police chief to uncover the judicial corruption case was working professionally.

The success in bringing Tambunan home was the result of close coordination among the police, the Judicial Mafia Eradication Task Force, and immigration authorities, he said.

Meanwhile, Secretary of the Judicial Mafia Eradication Task Force Denny Indrayana said Tambunan's return was expected to accelerate the law enforcers' efforts to reveal the judicial mafia cases.

"This case is expected to be revealed sooner because we now have all the key witnesses, namely Andi Kosasih, Haposan Hutagalung, and Gayus Tambunan," he said.

Indrayana said he believed in the police investigators' professionalism and integrity in handling the Gayus Tambunan case.

Tambunan's case came under the spotlight after the police named him suspect in connection with a suspicious Rp25 billion bank account in his name.

Following the discovery of the irregularity in the investigation of the case the police then set up a special team of investigators.

Tambunan left Indonesia for Singapore on March 24 after securing a passport with false data.

It was former chief detective Commissioner General Susno Duadji who was the first person to disclose the case.

In connection with Tambunan's case, the police had also arrested a lawyer and a police officer.

Haposan Hutagalung, who was Tambunan's lawyer from June 8 to September 1, 2009, and Police Commissioner Arafat are in police custody since Monday night.

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