November 13, 2025 | 05:19 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Constitutional Court has rejected all petitions seeking to elevate the position of Indonesia’s National Police Chief to ministerial status. The ruling was delivered during the verdict session of case Number 19/PUU-XXIII/2025 on Thursday, November 13, 2025.
Constitutional Judge Suhartoyo announced the decision, stating that the court fully dismissed the petitioners’ requests.
“The Court rejects the petitioners’ requests in their entirety,” he said in the court plenary session in Jakarta.
The petition was submitted by Sukur Desteli Gulo, Kristian Adriano Sihite, and Devita Ana Lisandra. They challenged Article 11 paragraph (2) of Law Number 2 of 2002 concerning the Indonesian National Police (Police Law), arguing that it did not provide clear rules regarding the tenure and dismissal mechanism of the Police Chief.
The petitioners asserted that the Police Chief’s position should be equivalent to a minister, with a term tied to the president’s tenure, similar to cabinet members.
Article 11 paragraph (2) of the Police Law stipulates that “the proposal for the appointment and dismissal of the Police Chief is submitted by the President to the People’s Consultative Assembly along with the reasons.”
The petitioners contended that the phrase “along with the reasons” is insufficiently detailed in the law, creating ambiguity over the legality of the current Police Chief, Listyo Sigit Prabowo, since he has not been formally reappointed by the newly elected president, Prabowo Subianto.
However, the court found the petitioners’ arguments legally unsubstantiated. Judge Arsul Sani explained that during deliberations in 2002, lawmakers deliberately rejected the idea of giving the Police Chief ministerial status.
“The phrase ‘at a ministerial level’ is not included in the Police Law. The lawmakers emphasized that the Police Chief is a high-ranking active officer, not a member of the cabinet,” Arsul said.
The Constitutional Court stressed that labeling the Police Chief as equivalent to a minister could compromise the Police Force’s independence. It would risk prioritizing the president’s political interests over the legal and public duties of the police.
“Constitutionally, Article 30 paragraph (4) of the 1945 Constitution states that the Police Force is a state instrument that must prioritize legal and public interests over political interests,” Arsul added.
The court further clarified that the Police Chief holds a professional career position rather than a periodic political post. The Police Chief can be dismissed at any time based on presidential evaluation, in accordance with existing laws and regulations.
“Thus, the petitioners’ request to equate the Police Chief with a minister is legally groundless,” Arsul concluded.
The ruling reaffirms that the Police Chief remains a state officer leading the police institution, separate from the cabinet. The court highlighted that granting ministerial status could undermine the independence of the National Police as an impartial law enforcement body.
Editor’s Choice: Indonesia's Top Court Blocks Police Officers from Taking Civil Posts
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Indonesia's Top Court Blocks Police Officers from Taking Civil Posts
54 menit lalu
The Constitutional Court rules that police officers can no longer hold civil positions, requiring them to resign or retire first.
Jakarta School Blast: Police Urged to Consider Suspected Student Bomber's Status as a Minor
1 hari lalu
The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) emphasizes that status of the suspected student, which is a minor, should be the main consideration.
Indonesian Police Unveil Six Common Illegal Mining Modus Operandi
1 hari lalu
The Indonesian National Police has intensified its crackdown on illegal mining, with estimated losses amounting to trillions of rupiah.
Densus 88: Suspected Perpetrator of Jakarta School Blast Assembled the Bombs Himself
2 hari lalu
Police's Antiterror Special Detachment 88 (Densus 88) says the perpetrator, who is a student, assembled the explosive materials himself.
SMAN 72 Jakarta School Blast, Police Have Not Found Any Connection to Terrorism
2 hari lalu
The Indonesian police have not found any connection between the suspected student who caused the explosion at SMAN 72 Jakarta high school.
Police Raid Home of Suspected SMAN 72 Jakarta Blast, Seize Books and Documents
2 hari lalu
Police will still investigate the connection between the books and documents with the explosion incident at SMAN 72 Jakarta.
Jakarta School Blast: Police Plan to Build Trauma Healing Center for SMAN 72 Students
3 hari lalu
To help the mental recovery of students, the Jakarta police plan to build a trauma healing center in the environment of SMAN 72 school.
Jakarta School Blast: What's Been Found and How the Victims Are Faring
4 hari lalu
Recovery of the victims and investigation into the incident of the explosion at SMAN 72 Jakarta continues to be the focus of the government and the police on the second day after the explosion.
Indonesian Student Press Association Condemns Minister Amran Sulaiman's Lawsuit Against Tempo
4 hari lalu
Indonesian Student Press Association (PPMI) condemns the lawsuit filed by Minister of Agriculture Amran Sulaiman against Tempo.
Densus 88 Investigates Alleged Links to Terrorist Networks in SMAN 72 Explosion Case
4 hari lalu
Densus 88 team of Metro Jaya Police are currently investigating the link between the terrorist network and the explosion incident at SMAN 72.
