Jakarta, mataberita.net — Growing up as one of five brothers – all sharing the name Agus – Drs. Agus Andrianto, LL.B., LL.M. (S.H., M.H.) once had a simple childhood dream: to become a postman, or ‘Pak Pos’, delivering letters from door to door. But life had other plans. Born in Blora, Central Java, on February 16, 1967, Agus would go on to rise through a remarkable path of public service, eventually being entrusted with leading Indonesia’s Ministry of Immigration and Corrections. Today, he turns a year older. Happy Birthday!
Agus Andrianto comes from a large family with an unusual story. He has five brothers—and remarkably, they all share the same first name : Agus. Born to Sukarsono and Sri Sudaryati, he is the 11th of 12 children. His father was a career civil servant who spent years serving the public, eventually becoming the sub-district head (camat) of Banjarejo in Blora. He retired from government service in 1982.
Agus Andrianto comes from a family of 12 siblings – six women and six men. The naming tradition in his household is as distinctive as it is memorable : every son was given the name Agus, while every daughter carries the name Sri. According to Agus Oni Setiawan, the youngest of the brothers, their parents chose the name ‘Agus’ for all of their sons because it was believed to reflect a masculine meaning.
Meanwhile, the name ‘Sri’ was reserved for the daughters, as their parents believed it carried a feminine meaning. Despite sharing the same names, each sibling went on to carve out a different path in life. Agus Andrianto is the only one in the family who pursued a career in the police force. He completed his early education in Blora, attending SDN 1 Tempelan, SMPN 1 Blora, and SMAN 1 Blora.
Andrianto began his career in the police force after enrolling at the Armed Forces Academy of the Republic of Indonesia (AKABRI)—now known as the Indonesian Police Academy (Akpol). He graduated in 1989. After graduating, the senior police officer continued to broaden his expertise by taking part in various trainings and courses, both in Indonesia and abroad. He also pursued a master’s degree in law at the Muhammadiyah University of North Sumatra (UMSU).
Andrianto’s pursuit of education was not an easy journey. Along the way, he faced various challenges throughout the different stages of his career. He began his service in 1989 as a young officer, assigned as Pampta at the Dairi Police Resort (Polres Dairi) in North Sumatra. During his first six years in service, he held several postings as a police sector chief (Kapolsek) in different areas, including Sumbul (1992), Parapat (1993), and Percut Sei Tuan (1995).
After completing Agus’s studies at the Police Science College (PTIK) in 1995, he went on to hold a number of strategic positions across Lampung, East Java, and North Sumatra. Over the years, he steadily rose through the ranks and served in a number of regions across Indonesia. The peak of his regional career came when he was appointed Chief of the North Sumatra Regional Police (Kapolda Sumut) from 2018 to 2019.
During Agus’s tenure, he was credited with handling several major cases, including efforts to crack down on narcotics trafficking in North Sumatra. Following these achievements, he was entrusted with a number of key positions at the National Police Headquarters (Mabes Polri), including serving as Head of the Police Public Relations Division and Head of the Security Maintenance Agency (Baharkam).
In 2021, the four-star general was appointed Chief of the Criminal Investigation Agency (Kabareskrim). Two years later, he was again trusted by National Police Chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo to serve as Deputy Chief of the Indonesian National Police (Wakapolri).
Today, the police general has been entrusted with a cabinet post as Minister of Immigration and Corrections in the Red and White Cabinet. It is little surprise that President Prabowo Subianto selected him for the ministerial seat, given his record of achievements in handling major cases—both at the regional level and on the national stage.
As Head of the Criminal Investigation Agency (Kabareskrim), Agus led the investigation into the high-profile murder case involving former National Police Internal Affairs chief Ferdy Sambo. Sambo was accused of killing his aide, Brigadier Yosua Hutabarat, at his official residence in Kalibata, South Jakarta. Agus even visited the crime scene in person.
Despite serving as a police commissioner general at the time, Agus remained directly involved in the handling of the case. His track record also recalls earlier high-profile investigations. While serving as Director of General Crimes (Dirtipidum) at the Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim), he was involved in a case related to then-suspended Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, widely known as Ahok.
Agus played a role in examining expert witnesses, including Rizieq Shihab, the leader of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI). On November 16, 2016, prosecutors sought a one-year prison sentence for Ahok, with a two-year probation period. Meanwhile, during his tenure as Chief of the North Sumatra Regional Police, Agus led the investigation into the murder of Jamaluddin, a judge at the Medan District Court.
The retired police general said investigators were confident the murder involved someone close to the victim, although he was transferred before the case was fully resolved. Subsequent findings later revealed that the victim’s wife, Zuraida Hanum, was the mastermind behind the killing, aided by two executors.
Agus later led an operation to uncover the suicide bombing carried out by RMN (24) at the Medan City Police headquarters (Mapolrestabes Medan) in November 2019. The attacker detonated himself near the canteen area, injuring six people. The operation resulted in the arrest of 23 suspects believed to be linked to a terrorism network.
Under Agus’s leadership, police also solved the murder case of former NasDem legislative candidate Maraden Sianipar and his supporter, Martua Siregar. The case was linked to a dispute over palm oil plantation land in Labuhanbatu. Maraden’s body was found in a plantation area in Hamlet VI of Wonosari Village, Panai Hilir, on October 30, 2019. Martua’s body was discovered the following day.
Police managed to arrest five suspects in connection with the killings. Beyond his track record in handling major cases, the Minister of Immigration and Corrections has also received a number of awards and official honours, including:
- Bintang Yudha Dharma Pratama (Yudha Dharma Star – First Class);
- Bintang Bhayangkara Pratama (Bhayangkara Star – First Class);
- Bintang Bhayangkara Nararya (Bhayangkara Star – Nararya Class);
- Satyalancana Pengabdian 24 Tahun (24-Year Service Medal);
- Satyalancana Pengabdian 16 Tahun (16-Year Service Medal);
- Satyalancana Pengabdian 8 Tahun (8-Year Service Medal);
- Satyalancana Jana Utama (Jana Utama Medal);
- Satyalancana Ksatria Bhayangkara (Bhayangkara Knight Medal);
- Satyalancana Karya Bhakti (Meritorious Service Medal);
- Satyalancana Bhakti Pendidikan (Education Service Medal);
- Satyalancana GOM VII (Military Operation Medal VII);
- Satyalancana GOM IX (Military Operation Medal IX);
- Satyalancana Seroja (Seroja Medal);
- Satyalancana Dharma Nusa (Dharma Nusa Medal);
- Satyalancana Bhakti Nusa (Bhakti Nusa Medal);
- Satyalancana Operasi Kepolisian (Police Operation Medal);
- Satyalancana Kebaktian Sosial (Social Service Medal).
Not only that, Agus Andrianto has also earned four qualification badges (brevet), namely:
- Brimob Pioneer Brevet;
- Police Diving Brevet;
- Parachutist Brevet;
- Investigator Brevet.
Yet few would have guessed that the retired senior police officer once dreamed of a very different career: becoming a postal worker—known in Indonesia as ‘Pak Pos’. The dream was inspired by his family, as several of his relatives worked at the post office. However, that childhood ambition faded after he graduated from SMAN 1 Blora, as his path eventually led him to the police force instead.
Agus’s dream of becoming a postal worker grew even more distant after he was accepted into the Indonesian Police Academy (Akpol). As a cadet, his determination was simple: to make his parents proud and happy. But fate dealt him a painful blow. In 1987, while he was still a second-year cadet, his mother passed away.
