Commissioner General Tito Karnavian Sworn In as Indonesian Police Chief

Jakarta, 07 Syawal 1437/ 13 July 2016 (MINA) – Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Wednesday installed Commissioner General Tito Karnavian as the new national police chief at the State Palace.

Karnavian was chief of the National Counter Terrorism Agency (BNPT) and previously posted positions such as Jakarta police chief and the head of the special anti-terror squad of Densus 88.

His reputation started to grow during his term at the anti-terror squad, which successfully paralyzed terrorist top figures in the country, Doctor Azhari Hussin and Noordin M. Top.

After his installment, Karnavian stressed that combating terrorism and rising police working performance are among his priorities, Xinhua reported.

He promised to capture  who leads IS network in the country, and his cells.

“The crimes which have implication of contingency such as terrorism is my focus,” he said at the palace.

“We will intensify the operation (to capture Santoso) until he is arrested or killed,” Karnavian added.

Karnavian joined the police academy in 1987 and graduated from the Exeter University in the United Kingdom and had his master degree in Police Studies in 1993.

In 2013, he got his PhD degree from the Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.

Karnavian succeeded General Badrodin Haiti who will retire in August.

Terrorism, transnational crimes and insurgency are among the main challenges for the Indonesian police. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islami News Agency (MINA)