Earlier it was reported that Mamuju forest police foiled an attempt to smuggle out ebony trees which were held by police as confiscated goods a few years.Makassar, South Sulawesi (ANTARA News) - South Sulawesi and West Sulawesi police chief Insp. Gen. Burhanuddin Andi has kept silent about ebony tree smuggling allegedly committed by his subordinate.
Andi refused to answer questions by reporters about the allegation against a ranking police officer of the Mamuju district police in West Sulawesi.
Instead he talked about success by police and the military in maintaining security during the elections for heads of regional and district administrations in South Sulawesi on Monday.
Regional police spokesman Sr. Comr. Endi Sutendi said investigation of the case is still underway.
Earlier it was reported that Mamuju forest police foiled an attempt to smuggle out ebony trees which were held by police as confiscated goods a few years.
The smuggling attempt involved a ranking police officer of the Mamuju district police, head of the Mamuju Forest Protection and Control Section Suhardi told reporters in Mamuju.
Suhardi said the case was unveiled after two trucks loaded with goods were stopped by the forest police at the Kalubibing Trans Sulawesi highway 15 kilometers from the city of Mamuju .
The forest police officers found the trucks loaded with ebony trees not as stated in their documents, he said.
He said the ebony trees were later sent back to the Mamuju police office for investigation.
"A police officer is involved, as the trucks were also guarded by members of the Mamuju district police," he said.
Mamuju district police chief Adj. Sr. Comr Darwis Rincing also refused to give the name of his officer allegedly involved in the smuggling.
"There is a police officer under investigation in this case, but I can`t yet confirm if he would be declared a suspect," Darwis said.
The case has been handed over to the regional police office, he added. (*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
