Police recruitment tainted by bribery: Applicants<\/p>\n
Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The poor image of the police was again reinforced as several
\npeople who applied to join the force claimed on Wednesday they
\nwere told to prepare up to Rp 15 million (US$1,500) if they
\nwished to pass the selection process.<\/p>\n
An applicant, Koko, not his real name, told The Jakarta Post
\nthat when he was about to take the test number, a police officer
\ntold him to prepare Rp 15 million if he wanted to be accepted.<\/p>\n
\"The price is too high for me. I will have to reconsider
\nproceeding further with the tests if money is a decisive matter
\nin the recruitment process\", said Koko, who applied to be
\nrecruited as a middle-ranking (Taruna) officer.<\/p>\n
The National Police opens recruitment for Taruna and Bintara
\n(low-ranking officers), for high-school graduates from March 26
\nto April 26.<\/p>\n
The initial process, such as the administration and physical
\ntests, are conducted by the Jakarta Police, while the written and
\npsychology tests are held at the National Police Headquarters.<\/p>\n
Shinta, not her real name, who applied to become Bintara, said
\nthat she was told to pay Rp 1 million.<\/p>\n
\"A policewoman told me, when I was queuing to take the number,
\nthat all I have to do is to submit Rp 1 million to her if I want
\nto pass the test,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Many applicants also told The Jakarta Post that they
\nencountered the same extortion.<\/p>\n
Corrupt police are commonplace here. It is an open secret that
\none can obtain a driving license without taking any test. Traffic
\npolice are also notorious for extorting bribes.<\/p>\n
Jakarta Police secretary of personnel affairs Sr. Adj. Comr.
\nNgadino, denied that the practice of extortion occurred during
\nthe recruitment process of police personnel. He said police
\nintelligence officers were deployed to prevent such a practice.<\/p>\n
\"All the processes during recruitment are free of charge. If
\nsuch an incident does happen, the applicants could report it
\ndirectly to me,\" said Ngadino.<\/p>\n
However, he added the applicants would probably be asked to
\npay for administrative fees, for a folder and papers.<\/p>\n
Currently, the National Police have some 250,000 personnel
\nthroughout Indonesia - only 55 percent are on the field, while 45
\npercent work in desk jobs.<\/p>\n
Ngadino said the police are planning to recruit some 800 low-
\nranking officers, but he did not give the number for the middle-
\nranking officers.<\/p>\n
Ngadino added that up until Wednesday, only 300 from at least
\n2,000 applicants for both Bintara and Taruna had qualified for
\nthe first physical test, which is the parade test.<\/p>\n
The applicants must pass seven tests comprising of health,
\nswimming, mental ideology, psychology, and academic tests.<\/p>\n
Those who are accepted to become a Taruna will be sent to the
\nPolice Academy in Semarang, Central Java, while a Bintara will
\ntake a short course at the police training center in Lido, West
\nJava.<\/p>\n
A fresh graduate of the academy will hold the rank of Second
\nInspector with a monthly salary of about Rp 1.2 million (US$120),
\nwhile for Bintara it is Rp 750,000, with the rank of Second
\nAdjutant Brigadier.<\/p>\n
To become a member of the police force, the minimum
\nrequirement is an average high school grade of 6.5.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, the police were kept busy by woman suffering
\nfrom depression named Adelia Heriyanto, who climbed a 100-meter
\ntelecommunication tower located inside the Jakarta Police
\nHeadquarters.<\/p>\n
She had apparently applied for Bintara, but did not qualify
\nbecause her average grade was only 5.5, according to a police
\nofficer who handled the case.<\/p>\n
She stayed at the top of the tower for almost four and a half
\nhours before the police managed to convince her to end her
\nsuicide attempt.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-recruitment-tainted-by-bribery-applicants-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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