56 tried for misdemeanors

TANGERANG: The Tangerang district court tried on Tuesday 56 people for committing misdemeanors and fined them between Rp 10,600 (US$1.25) and Rp 50,000 for violating Bylaw No. 10/2000 on public order.

Judge Lucya Usmani said the 56 people, consisting of street musicians, street vendors, public minivan drivers, motorcycle taxi drivers and pak ogah (unofficial traffic wardens), were proved guilty of disturbing public order.

Their misdemeanors include failure to extend their already expired identity cards, busking illegally and soliciting motorists for money.

The trial was witnessed by three prosecutors, who collected the fines as soon as the judge handed down the verdict.

Ten of the 56 people were unable to pay the fines, because they did not have any money, so prosecutors placed them under police custody for another three days before they could be released.

The 56 were netted on Monday afternoon at several locations across the municipality in a crackdown conducted jointly by the municipal public order agency and the police, and were taken into police custody until their trial. -- JP