DLLAJ criticized for seizure of water truck

JAKARTA (JP): Public Land Transportation Agency (DLLAJ) officials are in trouble after they allegedly unlawfully seized a water truck on Monday during a routine operation in Rawa Buaya, West Jakarta, a city official said on Thursday.

City administration spokesperson Muhayat quoted local police as saying that officials from a DLLAJ office in West Jakarta seized the truck without first asking for police assistance after they found out its driver, Sanaih, did not have a license to drive the vehicle.

The seizure of the truck led to the demolition of the DLLAJ's Rawa Buaya office at the hands of a mob on Tuesday.

"As far as the city administration is concerned, examining driving licenses falls under traffic police authority," Muhayat said.

"DLLAJ officials should have coordinated with the police, instead of taking action by themselves."

Muhayat said the officials' action was against Governor Sutiyoso's instruction that city officials should follow their job descriptions and not act beyond their authority.

"The governor has ordered the DLLAJ officials be thoroughly investigated and necessary sanctions be imposed if they are proven to have mistakenly carried out their job," he added.

Some 100 people arrived at the DLLAJ's Rawa Buaya office in 30 water trucks on Tuesday to protest the officials' actions the day before.

Dissatisfied with the officials' actions, the mob pelted stones at the DLLAJ office. They eventually demolished the building with wooden sticks and iron bars.

Head of the Rawa Buaya office, Dasuki M., said the mob had caused Rp 15 million in damages. The amount was needed to replace the office's broken windows and to repair four crane trucks and a patrol car.

Dasuki said his office was about to release the truck after the truck owner, identified as Edih, signed an agreement to provide the driver with a license on Tuesday morning.

"But the crowd immediately ran amok," he said.

Dasuki defended that DLLAJ, saying it had the authority to examine vehicles that carry goods or passengers.

Cengkareng Police are still looking for members of the mob, as they ran away when police arrived at the scene.

"We are still investigating the case," First Lt. Mulyono, the Cengkareng Police chief of detectives, said on Thursday. (09)