Bali Police to Dismiss Officer Convicted of Human Trafficking

The Bali Police's Profession and Security (Propam) Division is processing a dismissal without honor (PTDH) against a former member of the Bali Police's Water and Air Police Directorate (Ditpolairud) who was convicted of a human trafficking crime (TPPO). Head of Public Relations of the Bali Police, Kombes I Ketut Agus Kusmayadi, said his institution implemented a zero tolerance policy for any violations committed by members of the National Police, including involvement in human trafficking crimes. "There is no violation that we do not follow up. We do not tolerate the slightest violation of members of the National Police," he said as reported by ANTARA, Monday, June 29. The member who was processed by PTDH was I Putu Setiyawan, who was convicted of guilt in the TPPO case against 21 crew members (ABK) of the KM Awindo 2A by the Denpasar District Court. According to Agus, the PTDH process for members who commit serious violations is carried out in stages, ranging from proposals at the Polda level to the final decision issued by the National Police Headquarters. "If it is proven, there is nothing we can forgive. Everything will be dealt with according to the level of violation," he said. The statement was made following the decision of the Denpasar District Court which sentenced I Putu Setiyawan to three years in prison and a fine of Rp. 200 million after being proven to be involved in the TPPO practice against 21 prospective ABK KM Awindo 2A. The panel of judges considered TPPO to be an extraordinary crime. The judge also highlighted the defendant's status as a member of the National Police who should protect the community, but instead abused his authority and position to commit a crime. In addition to imprisonment and a fine, the defendant is required to pay restitution of Rp. 32 million in joint and several liability with four other defendants, namely the Director of PT Awindo International Bali Representative Iwan, the captain of KM Awindo 2A Jaja Sucharja, the Director of CV Pelaut Bahari Sejahtera Refdiyanto, and Titin Sumartini. During the trial, it was revealed that Setiyawan was involved in recruiting prospective ABK, channeling operational funds for recruitment, collecting victim identity documents, and distributing and signing the Sea Labor Agreement (PKL) on board the ship. Propam Polda Bali also invites the public to monitor the behavior of members of the National Police through a QR code-based complaint channel that is directly connected to the National Police Headquarters. Agus said that since serving as the Head of Public Relations and Public Information of the Bali Police, around 35 members have been given disciplinary sanctions due to disciplinary violations and criminal acts. According to him, the most common criminal violations are related to drug abuse. He emphasized that there was no room for members of the National Police who were proven to have committed serious violations to be retained in the institution.