Extortion at bus terminals

Extortion at bus terminals

JAKARTA (JP): The City Land Transportation Agency has
threatened to take firm action against unscrupulous workers at
inter-city bus terminals who steal money from the sale of
platform entrance tickets.

The head of the agency, JP Sepang, said yesterday that his
office will not condone such action, which causes a drop in city
revenues.

The city has four inter-city bus terminals: Lebak Bulus in
South Jakarta, Kalideres in West Jakarta, Kampung Rambutan and
Pulogadung in East Jakarta.

"All people who visit a bus terminal should buy a ticket at Rp
100 (43 U.S. cents) to enter the terminal compound. My office
will investigate and take firm action against officers who
refused to hand out a ticket and thus steal the money," Sepang
said.

He was commenting on alleged fraud at the Pulogadung bus
terminal in East Jakarta.

Earlier this week, a councilor from the United Development
Party said money collected by Pulogadung bus terminal officials
was not being handed in.

Saud Rahman claimed that each day the city could collect more
than Rp 2.5 million from the terminal but the terminal management
only gives half of the real amount.

Sepang said after checking with terminal officials that
the amount of money handed over by the officials exactly matches
the number of tickets sold.

"There is no corruption in Pulogadung bus terminal. The city
receives Rp 2 million per day from platform fees," he said.

However, he did not dismiss the possibility that many terminal
visitors do not receive tickets from platform staff, and that
perhaps some goes directly into the staff's pockets.

Sepang did not reveal how much the three other inter-city bus
terminals daily contribute to city revenues. (yns)