The Solo Gang at Trunojoyo

COORDINATING Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mohammad Mahfud Md. had a private meeting with the Executive Chair of the National Police Commission (Kompolnas), Benny Jozua Mamoto, at the former’s office around August 2022. They were discussing a solution to the case of the murder of Brig. Nofriansyah Yosua Hutabarat, which implicated the Chief of the Profession and Security Division of the National Police (Polri), Insp. Gen. Ferdy Sambo.

At that time, the investigation was progressing slowly because Sambo was suspected of being protected by several low and middle-ranking police officers, particularly those assigned to the Profession and Security Division. Benny suggested to Mahfud the idea of a ‘total overhaul.’ He believed that if there were a massive reshuffle, the investigation into Yosua’s death would be completed. Mahfud agreed. He asked Benny to meet with the Chief of the National Police, Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo, that same evening to convey the idea.

However, Mahfud also prepared a backup plan in case Sigit rejected the proposal. Mahfud instructed Benny to deliver a ‘threatening’ message to Sigit. The message was if Sigit refused the suggestion, Mahfud would report to President Joko Widodo. “I will ask the President to order the National Police Chief to conduct a massive reshuffle,” Mahfud recounted the incident to Tempo at his office at Jalan Kramat, Central Jakarta, Tuesday, July 23.

But Gen. Sigit welcomed the idea.  Around 8pm, Sigit signed a secret telegram containing a reshuffle of 24 police personnel from the Profession and Security Division, the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, and the South Jakarta Metropolitan Police, who were believed to have covered up Yosua’s murder. They were reassigned to the National Police Headquarters Services Section.

As of Wednesday, July 24, Benny Mamoto had not responded to interview requests sent to his phone regarding his meeting with Mahfud. However, another National Police Commissioner, Poengky Indarti, confirmed that Benny came up with the ‘total overhaul’ idea. She said Benny presented the suggestion in Sigit’s office. “The National Police Chief agreed immediately,” Poengky stated.

The turmoil at the National Police Headquarters began with the Ferdy Sambo case. For the first time in the history of the institution, a general was arrested in a murder case. Amid the legal process of the Sambo scandal, the Kanjuruhan Stadium tragedy erupted on October 1, 2022. A total of 135 spectators of a BRI Liga 1 soccer match between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya at Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang, East Java, died from being trampled and suffocated. Police officers who were guarding the match were accused of recklessly firing tear gas. Consequently, the tear gas exposure caused thousands of spectators to panic and rush out of the stadium.

And two weeks later, on October 14, 2022, the National Police was hit by another scandal. Personnel from the Profession and Security Division detained the West Sumatra Regional Police Chief, Insp. Gen. Teddy Minahasa, who was accused of embezzling 5 kilograms of methamphetamine that had been seized as evidence. Teddy was the first general to be arrested in a narcotics case.

Central Java Police Chief Insp. Gen. Ahmad Luthfi (center) hands over supplies to residents affected by the earthquake in Lebo, Batang Regency, Central Java, July 8. ANTARA/Harviyan Perdana Putra

A few hours before Teddy’s detention, President Joko Widodo summoned all National Police officers and regional police chiefs to the State Palace. They were gathered because the image of the National Police was plummeting following the Sambo case and the Kanjuruhan tragedy. “Currently, public trust in the National Police is low,” said Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo after meeting with Jokowi at the event. Both Sambo and Teddy were ultimately sentenced to life imprisonment.

These three incidents shattered the police’s efforts to polish its image. Poengky Indarti said that there were three National Police Chief regulations that had been established long before to support cultural reform within the police. These included regulations on asset reporting by state officials, business activities for police members, and the ownership of luxury items.

However, Poengky said these regulations were unable to change the character and actions of police officers to make them be more acceptable to the public. Procedures for handling cases also did not improve. “There are still members who use excessive violence, are arrogant, and corrupt,” she said.

In some cases, there are police personnel who even serve certain interests. For instance, the surveillance of Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes, Febrie Adriansyah, by the Special Detachment 88 Anti-Terror in Cipete, South Jakarta, on May 19 this year. Two sources familiar with the incident, when interviewed separately, said that the surveillance was related to the handling of a corruption case involving tin trading, which was being managed by the deputy attorney general.

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PRESIDENT Joko Widodo appointed Listyo Sigit Prabowo as the National Police Chief on January 27, 2021. The 1991 Police Academy graduate replaced Gen. Idham Azis, a 1988 Police Academy alumnus. This meant Jokowi skipped over two other classes by choosing Sigit.

When Jokowi was still the Mayor of Solo in 2011, Listyo Sigit Prabowo was the Surakarta City Police Chief. Surakarta is the administrative name for Solo. Because they often worked together, they became close. Sigit’s career at Trunojoyo—the name for the National Police Headquarters—soared after Jokowi became president in 2014. Sigit had also served as Jokowi’s aide.

Aside from Sigit, the career of the 2010 Surakarta City Police Chief, Nana Sudjana, also progressed rapidly. Although retired, Nana was later appointed as the acting Governor of Central Java. Meanwhile, Ahmad Luthfi, the Deputy Chief of Surakarta City Police who worked alongside Sigit, also saw his career rise. Luthfi, who was not a Police Academy graduate, climbed to the rank of two-star general and now serves as the Chief of Central Java Regional Police. From these people, the term ‘Solo Gang’ emerged within the National Police to refer to Jokowi’s favored police officers who had previously worked with him in Solo.

Tempo magazine’s report titled The President in the Regional Elections on May 13, 2024, revealed President Jokowi’s role in the rise of Insp. Gen. Ahmad Luthfi’s name in the upcoming Central Java regional head election. Luthfi confided to several close associates that he had received instructions from Jokowi to prepare for candidacy as governor. Meanwhile, Nana was already prepared from the start to be the acting Governor of Central Java.

Imparsial researcher Hussein Ahmad stated that President Jokowi indeed has the prerogative to appoint police officers. However, the presence of special groups like the Solo Gang within the National Police disrupts the principle of meritocracy. Such groups receive specific privileges and set a bad precedent for the future. “Unfortunately, the President allows this phenomenon,” he said.

A similar opinion was expressed by Jacqui Baker, a researcher from Murdoch University in Perth, Australia. She added that Jokowi uses police officers who were once close to him for executive purposes. The trade-off is career advancement. Baker views this method as sending a negative message within the National Police. “There will be a notion that their careers will progress more smoothly by befriending officials rather than being high-achieving police officers,” she said.

Jokowi has also ‘pampered’ the police. At the end of his term, Jokowi issued a presidential letter endorsing the revision of Law No. 2/2002 on the National Police. This revision is controversial as it not only extends the retirement age for police officers but also increases various powers of the police. “This revision brings the police role closer to that of a super body investigator,” said Muhammad Isnur, Chair of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation.

National Police Public Relations Division Chief, Insp. Gen. Sandi Nugroho, did not respond to interview requests regarding police performance and allegations of the Solo Gang. He asked Tempo to confirm the matter with the Chief of the Public Information Bureau, Brig. Gen. Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko. As of Wednesday evening, July 24, Truno had not been able to provide an explanation as he was out of town. “I’m in Kendal (Central Java), and I can’t answer because I need data,” said Truno.