Dedi Mulyadi Confirms Personal Funds for Bounty on Begal Capture

West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi has taken concrete steps to suppress street crime in his region. The man familiarly known as KDM has confirmed that the Rp10 million reward in the competition to capture muggers comes purely from his own pocket, not from the Provincial Budget (APBD). This measure was taken as a form of rapid intervention against rampant criminal activity, as well as an effort to revive the tradition of community security through night watch posts. “No, the money is from me first,” said Dedi Mulyadi when met in the Arcamanik area of Bandung on Friday. Dedi believes that providing financial incentives is highly relevant to Indonesian culture, which has a tradition of appreciating achievement through public recognition. He said the reward system can spur residents’ enthusiasm to be more vigilant and proactive in protecting their neighbourhoods, similar to ranking systems in schools or competitions between regions. Beyond increasing alertness, the scheme is designed to curb vigilante actions that often end fatally for perpetrators. With the lure of a reward, the public is expected to prefer handing over criminals to the authorities rather than resorting to violence on the spot. “The logic is simple. For example, if there is a motorcycle thief, don’t beat him to death. If there is a reward from me, there’s no need to beat him to death; it’s quite a nice sum, Rp10 million, if you deliver him. That will have a psychological impact,” explained the former Purwakarta Regent. Although promising a substantial reward, Dedi Mulyadi has set strict conditions for citizens wishing to claim the money. The main focus is humane and orderly law enforcement. Dedi stressed that the reward will not be given if the perpetrator is handed over in a severely injured condition due to mob violence. “If they are battered and bruised, that is not allowed. A small scratch might be okay, but if they are badly beaten, we will not give the reward,” he concluded.