Bogus traffic police

Bogus traffic police

From Republika

I am referring to an article in Republika, Feb. 13, 1996,
titled 'Nikmatnya jadi polantas gadungan' (It's enjoyable to be a
bogus traffic police officer).

I wonder just how deft AS, a resident of Sukamakmur village in
Bekasi, West Java, is in playing the role of a traffic policeman.
He was eventually arrested, after he succeeded in collecting
millions of rupiah from the public. What is obvious is that he
also tarnished the police department's reputation.

How did he manage to impersonate a police officer? He once
worked as a truck driver's copilot. He learned the lessons, while
on the road transporting soil, from on-duty policemen who used to
extort money from truck drivers.

I would therefore like to appeal to dishonest traffic
policemen to stop this evil practice of illegally levying passing
truck drivers. The money you earn by such devious ways is not
blessed and is a deviation from the teachings of any religion.

Name and address

known to editor