6 motorists arrested for bribery charges

JAKARTA (JP): City Police plan to prosecute six motorists who were arrested after allegedly trying to bribe traffic police officers.

City Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said on Thursday that all the offenses had taken place on city toll roads.

He said five of the motorists were truck drivers -- identified only as ACE, aged 21, JBN, 32, MR, 38, ML, 28, and RK, 32 -- and the sixth was a bus driver, identified as MT, 36.

"The arrest of the men is in line with the National Police Chief Gen. Dibyo Widodo's call for action to be taken against people who try to bribe police officers."

Aritonang said the men would be charged under Article 209 of the Criminal Code and, if found guilty, they face a maximum penalty of eight months in jail.

He did not say when the alleged offenses took place, or when and in which courts the cases would be heard.

Aritonang said police were also questioning some traffic police officers in relation to the bribery cases.

"If they are found guilty of receiving money from the men, they will be punished," he said.

He said punishment for the officers could range from a verbal warning, transfer to another section or dismissal.

Aritonang warned motorists not to bribe traffic police as stern action would be taken against them. (jun)