Arguments with police<\/p>\n
I refer to an article by Parlindungan Sibarani (The Jakarta
\nPost, Sunday, June 4, 2000, Living in Jakarta's crime-ridden
\njungle).<\/p>\n
What he said in his article about his friend's experience with
\npolice officers mirrored my experience on May 12, 2000. I even
\nsuspect it was along the same stretch of road. Indonesian friends
\nI told about the incident shrugged knowingly, admitting it to be
\ncommon knowledge. I wrote to the Post at the time, but my letter
\nwas not printed.<\/p>\n
As a point of note, I decided at the time to go to court. Upon
\nconsulting lawyers, I was advised that my tilang (direct fine
\npaid for traffic offense) was marked with a code between police
\nofficers and the court that I had been uncooperative, abusive and
\nargumentative to the officer. I had been condemned and sentenced
\neven before my court appearance.<\/p>\n
I have lodged an appeal with some top police officers who
\nadmitted from the photographs of the scene that there was no
\nviolation. Luckily for me, my violation has been canceled. But I
\nam still deeply upset by the prefabrication and slur on my good
\nname.<\/p>\n
Other expat friends mentioned police raids in night clubs and
\nbeing \"found\" with suspected illegal drugs, planted on them to
\nextort money in exchange for being \"let off\". I am deeply worried
\nat the sort of treatment given to us expats, just because of the
\npreconceived idea that we are made of money. Another friend even
\nreceived a phone call threatening him with a bomb (a hoax).<\/p>\n
Indonesia has been an experience not likely to be forgotten,
\nunfortunately for some of us, over the last few months, with not
\nso fond memories.<\/p>\n
MS. R WAN ALI<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/arguments-with-police-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }