Five police rounded up

JAKARTA (JP): Five police members were netted along with 61 civilians in two separated operations against touts offering their services to applicants of driver's licenses and other vehicle documents yesterday.

Capt. Monto Sutardjo of the Jakarta Police Internal Affairs unit, which carried out the operation, told reporters yesterday that the suspects, including a woman, were caught red-handed while trying to collect money from the public.

"None of them realized they were being carefully watched by internal police officers.

The first group of 23 people were netted at the city police driver's license administration office in Muara Angke, West Jakarta.

The second group of 43 were captured at the vehicle administration unit at the city police headquarters on Jl. Gatot Subroto in South Jakarta.

As in many operations against touts, all the suspects were released in the evening after signing forms stating they would not commit the same offense again.

"If they are netted again, we'll bring them to court," Monto said.

Monto's predecessor made the same threat many times over the years, but most touts operating in the city police complex are reportedly the same people. (edt)