Bali’s police chief says he will show no mercy to dirty cops taking part in the island’s drug trade, especially if they are caught dealing or couriering.
Police Chief Insp. Gen. Petrus Reihard Golose made the statement on Tuesday during an event seeing the destruction of drug evidence at police headquarters.
Speaking from his podium, Golose reportedly threatened to shoot police officers if they were found out to be connected with drugs and “playing games.”
“It’s no secret anymore that there are officers who are playing games, playing with fellow officers, playing with prisoners, playing with prosecutors, playing with judges. If there are officers like this, I ask you just shoot them,” Golose said, as quoted by Merdeka.
“If I meet them, I will shoot them,” he added, just to make things clear.
Is this legal to just go around shooting dirty cops? Not really, but police do have a reputation in Indonesia for sticking “fleeing” suspects in the leg with hot lead, so there’s that.
Golose’s mention of prisoners was likely referencing LP Kerobokan, the island’s largest prison, infamous for being a hub in Bali’s drug trade.
The police chief did, however, draw a distinction between users and dealers. According to Golose, if an officer is found to be a drug addict, they should undergo immediate rehabilitation, but a dealer should be shot.
“But even if you still want to play games, get shot. I say this, because this is for the next generation in Bali,” he said.
Other than for the good of future Balinese generations, Golose says he’s got to be firm to keep Bali clean, as its reputation as a safe and comfortable destination is paramount to the tourism industry.
Also concerning Golose is the amount of Balinese involved in drug cases—while Balinese are ethnically native to the island, Bali, with its big tourism industry is a magnet for Indonesians across the country, seeking opportunity.
According to Golose, as many as 60 percent of suspects in drug cases, whether they be addicts, users, dealers, or couriers, are native to Bali.
Police say the amount of drug cases is growing in Bali year to year. Just last week, Bali’s governor, Made Mangku Pastika, claimed the island’s drug situation is in a “state of emergency” because all the instances of drug abuse.
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