Jakarta, SEAJori – Riau Islands Police Chief Inspector General Asep Safrudin has been promoted to head the Criminal Investigation Agency (Kabareskrim) of the Indonesian National Police (Polri).
The promotion was formalized through an official telegram issued by the National Police Chief, numbered ST/2205/X/Kep/2026, dated October 2, 2026. Safrudin replaces Commissioner General Syahar Diantono, who has been reassigned to the Executive Office of the President (KSP) within the Polri structure.
“Alhamdulillah, thank you to the people of Riau Islands for their support and cooperation all this time,” Safrudin said briefly when contacted on Saturday.
Safrudin served as Deputy Chief of the Riau Islands Police starting June 24, 2023, before being appointed as the regional Police Chief on January 31, 2025. Throughout his tenure, he focused on enhancing security, law enforcement, drug eradication, public service, and strengthening relations between the police and local communities.
Just prior to his new appointment, Safrudin received the 2026 Alliance of Indonesian Television Journalists (IJTI) award in Jakarta for his contributions to public information transparency and supporting the journalism ecosystem in the border region. Safrudin also previously served as Chief of the Barelang Police in Batam in 2014.
The latest structural reshuffle also saw Commissioner General Karyoto, former Chief of the Security Maintenance Agency (Kabaharkam), reassigned ahead of his retirement. He is succeeded by Riau Police Chief Inspector General Hery Herjawan, who previously served as the Head of Criminal Investigation at the Barelang Police. (*)
