The Star Online, Wednesday April 2, 2008
By PAUL GABRIEL
KUALA LUMPUR: In the aftermath of the shocking passport renewal scam involving two of its ambassadors here, Indonesia is sending another retired national police chief as ambassador to Malaysia.
Gen Da’i Bachtiar, who was Kapolri (Kepala Kepolisian Republik Indonesia) between 2001 and 2005, has been handed the task of putting things right at the Indonesian mission here.
Indonesian Embassy counsellor Eka A. Suripto confirmed that Wisma Putra had approved Bachtiar’s posting as ambassador to Malaysia.
“We expect General Bachtiar to arrive soon,” he told The Star.
Gen Bachtiar: His posting said to have been approved. The republic had not posted an ambassador here since January last year when Rusdihardjo, who was the national police chief in 2000, completed his three-year stint as envoy.
Bachtiar, 58, shot to prominence for investigating the Bali bombings in October 2002.
Rusdihardjo, 63, is facing charges at the Anti-Corruption Court in Jakarta for embezzling funds involving passport renewal tariffs for Indonesians during his term here.
He is alleged to have received between RM30,000 and RM40,000 a month by charging higher fees for immigration services rendered at the embassy between 2004 and 2006.
Last December, Rusdihardjo’s predecessor Hadi Wayarabi Alhadar was jailed 36 months and ordered to pay RM2.7mil by the court after being convicted of corruption charges involving such tariffs during his tenure here.
The Indonesian Foreign Ministry began investigations in 2005 after reports surfaced that Indonesian applicants here had been forced to pay double the amount stipulated (RM40 instead of RM20) in order to get their passport renewals expedited.
