Five police rounded up

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)