Bimantoro and the Patrol Ships
As chaos mounts within the police, a bundle of documents reached the TEMPO editor's desk. They involve the purchase of two `type A' police patrol ships, and controversial police chief General Surojo Bimantoro. The documents were duly checked out and found to be authentic.
July 17, 2001
It is no secret that Indonesia's motley police patrol ships always get left behind in chases with boats fishing illegally in Indonesian waters. Let alone the increasing number of pirates on its high seas. So General Surojo Bimantoro's plan to strengthen the police fleet by buying `type A' fast patrol ships looked a good idea on paper. The price: US$29.5 million or around Rp300 billion. The contract went to PT Satria Utama Mandiri Mandajaya, led ...