Bogus traffic officer arrested

JAKARTA: The city transportation agency arrested a 34-year-old woman who pretended to be a traffic and land transport officer at Grogol bus terminal, West Jakarta.

Head of Grogol bus terminal Ahmad Rustam Effendi arrested Eti Kusmiati, the bogus officer, when she talked with an employee of a bus operator at the terminal.

Eti admitted that she had worn the traffic officer uniform for two months, but claimed she had done it because she liked the uniform.

But her statement raised doubts, as she could have abused the uniform for financial benefit.

Traffic and land transportation officers are authorized to monitor the performance of public transport operators. There are many reports about such officers, who often illegally demand payment from public vehicle operators deemed to have violated regulations, such as using unauthorized roads.

Eti was handed over to Gambir police station for further legal processing.

The mother of one child holds an identity card issued by Petojo subdistrict in Central Jakarta, but lives in Tambun district, Bekasi. --JP