He is capable and experienced in the field of intelligence gathering."
Surabaya (ANTARA News) - Budi Gunawan is fit to be the chief of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN), according to National Police Chief General Tito Karnavian.

"I have heard about the letter (the appointment of Budi Gunawan as BINs chief)," he stated after meeting the resort police chiefs across East Java.

Karnavian remarked that the National Police supported President Joko Widodos proposal on the new BIN chief as Commissioner General Gunawan, who is currently deputy police chief, was the right candidate.

"He is capable and experienced in the field of intelligence gathering. He has been a regional police commands chief twice and has experience as the national police deputy chief. He has also long been part of field operations and training, and therefore, I believe he will be capable," he explained.

He said the police are ready to cooperate with Gunawan if he is later appointed as the BIN chief.

Speaking in connection with Gunawans replacement as the national police deputy chief, Karnavian stated that it would be done later after he was installed as the new BINs chief.

"Should we tell who it will be? Later. What is certain is there must be a replacement," he emphasized.

When asked about executed narcotic convict Freddy Budimans statement on the flows of funds to three law enforcers, Karnavian revealed that the allegation was still being investigated.

"A team is still investigating it. We are still awaiting a report from the team, which is led by the inspector of general supervision and three external members comprising Effendy Ghozali, Hendardi, and Poengki Indarti," he stated.

He said the teams target was investigating whether there are indeed officers who had received Rp90 billion from Budiman.

"If it is true, it will certainly be processed. However, if it is not true, it will also be made known to the public. The team will make the announcement on the issue and will also give recommendations to the National Police chief. Hence, there is still time for it," he noted.

With regard to the guns discovered at the home of the head of the Association of Indonesian Artists AA Gatot Brajamusti in Pondok Pinang, Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta, Karnavian stated that the Jakarta police are still investigating the case.

"According to the initial reports I received, there are no documents for the guns, and therefore, he has been ordered to come to the Jakarta Metropolitan Police Command to bring the guns to be checked whether they are legal or illegal. If they are found to be illegal, he may be charged for violating Article 1 of Law Number 12 of 1951," he remarked.

National Police Chief Karnavian was in Surabaya on September 1-2 in connection with the signing of a cooperation document between the police and executive board of Nahdlatul Ulama organization at the East Java regional police headquarters on the prevention of social conflicts and officiated the opening of several public service innovations and a meeting with resort police chiefs from across the province.

(Reporting by Edy M Yakub/Uu.H-YH/INE/KR-BSR/B003)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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