70 fined during judical operation

70 fined during judical operation

JAKARTA (JP): Seventy Jakartans were rounded up and fined in
an on-the-spot "trial" yesterday as part of the ongoing operation
aimed at improving sagging local discipline.

Fines ranged from several thousand rupiahs to a maximum of Rp
50,000 ($22) during a sting on the streets of Central Jakarta.

The operation targeted people without ID cards, newcomers who
failed to report to their neighborhood chiefs after 16 days and
those holding expired ID cards.

Nurzul Noor, the head of the Central Jakarta chapter of the
Jakarta Population Office told The Jakarta Post that all the
violators opted to pay fines instead of doing time in jail.

A 1991 regulation states that anyone who does not have a valid
ID card is subject to a fine of Rp 50,000 or a maximum of three
months in jail.

"We mean to uphold this rule," he affirmed.

The operation in the Sumur Batu subdistrict in Central Jakarta
involved officials from the Central Jakarta population office,
the district police, land transportation office, the district
court and the prosecutors' office.

Noor said that the operation aims to improve public awareness
of the importance of ID cards. "Imagine if something unexpected
were to happen to someone traveling without an identity card," he
said. (32)