Never smile at a crocodile: Former National Police chief detective
Comr. Gen. Susno Duadji (center) enters police headquarters in Jakarta,
on Tuesday. Susno was questioned on Tuesday as a witness in the
tax embezzlement case of former tax official Gayus Tambunan
With the media in a frenzy following him over the past weeks, former National Police chief detective Comr. Gen. Susno Duadji ended his first questioning session tight-lipped.
Susno was questioned as a witness in the alleged graft case involving low-ranking tax official Gayus Tambunan, which he had publicly revealed.
Susno was also linked to case broker Sjahril Djohan, who was named a suspect and is currently being detained.
“Detectives grilled Pak Susno with 40 questions, two of them remained unanswered. But we can’t disclose the substance of the questions,” National Police deputy spokesman Sr. Comr. Zaenuri Lubis said Tuesday.
Susno will face further questions at another session on Wednesday, starting at 10 a.m. Zaenuri refused to comment as to whether Susno would be named a suspect.
“So far, his status remains a witness in the Gayus Tambunan case. However, the possibility [of Susno being named as suspect] remains open, depending on the progress of the investigation,” he said.
Seven lawyers accompanied Susno during the questioning, but none were willing to make statements on the substance of the questions.
Susno has come under the spotlight since revealing the Gayus case. Gayus was previously acquitted by Tangerang District Court on money laundering and corruption charges, despite the fact he had amassed Rp 28 billion (US$ 3.1 million) in his personal bank account.
When arriving at the headquarters at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, the three-star former military general Susno was wearing his uniform.
He left the building at 5 p.m., this time wearing a batik shirt, through the back door, to escape the media.
One of Susno’s lawyers, Ari Yusuf Amir, said Susno felt uncomfortable with the media on his arrival.
“Therefore the police officers guarding him decided to keep him from facing a repeat of the incident when he left,” Ari said, denying that his client had deliberately tried to avoid the press.
Susno’s scheduled questioning Tuesday has raised speculation that the National Police would name him a suspect and eventually detain him.
Lawyer Zul Armain Azis said Susno had anticipated the possibility of being detained.
“We, the lawyers for Pak Susno, talked to him last night. He said that if he had to be detained, he would be OK,” Zul said.
In several events — including before lawmakers — Susno has repeatedly said the Gayus case involved a case brokerage and implicated several officials, including high-ranking police detectives.
A police document recently leaked to the press contained a testimony from Sjahril that he and Susno were once brokered a case involving an arowana fish farm in Pekanbaru.
Susno has denied the accusation. “I’d be very stupid if I revealed the mafia if I myself was involved in it,” he said.
Susno previously said Sjahril was a case brokerage mastermind, describing him as someone with the ability to control police investigations, prosecutors’ indictments and court hearings.
Susno was questioned as a witness in the alleged graft case involving low-ranking tax official Gayus Tambunan, which he had publicly revealed.
Susno was also linked to case broker Sjahril Djohan, who was named a suspect and is currently being detained.
“Detectives grilled Pak Susno with 40 questions, two of them remained unanswered. But we can’t disclose the substance of the questions,” National Police deputy spokesman Sr. Comr. Zaenuri Lubis said Tuesday.
Susno will face further questions at another session on Wednesday, starting at 10 a.m. Zaenuri refused to comment as to whether Susno would be named a suspect.
“So far, his status remains a witness in the Gayus Tambunan case. However, the possibility [of Susno being named as suspect] remains open, depending on the progress of the investigation,” he said.
Seven lawyers accompanied Susno during the questioning, but none were willing to make statements on the substance of the questions.
Susno has come under the spotlight since revealing the Gayus case. Gayus was previously acquitted by Tangerang District Court on money laundering and corruption charges, despite the fact he had amassed Rp 28 billion (US$ 3.1 million) in his personal bank account.
When arriving at the headquarters at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, the three-star former military general Susno was wearing his uniform.
He left the building at 5 p.m., this time wearing a batik shirt, through the back door, to escape the media.
One of Susno’s lawyers, Ari Yusuf Amir, said Susno felt uncomfortable with the media on his arrival.
“Therefore the police officers guarding him decided to keep him from facing a repeat of the incident when he left,” Ari said, denying that his client had deliberately tried to avoid the press.
Susno’s scheduled questioning Tuesday has raised speculation that the National Police would name him a suspect and eventually detain him.
Lawyer Zul Armain Azis said Susno had anticipated the possibility of being detained.
“We, the lawyers for Pak Susno, talked to him last night. He said that if he had to be detained, he would be OK,” Zul said.
In several events — including before lawmakers — Susno has repeatedly said the Gayus case involved a case brokerage and implicated several officials, including high-ranking police detectives.
A police document recently leaked to the press contained a testimony from Sjahril that he and Susno were once brokered a case involving an arowana fish farm in Pekanbaru.
Susno has denied the accusation. “I’d be very stupid if I revealed the mafia if I myself was involved in it,” he said.
Susno previously said Sjahril was a case brokerage mastermind, describing him as someone with the ability to control police investigations, prosecutors’ indictments and court hearings.
