Governor Pramono Defends Security Guard, Urges Police to Sanction Alphard Driver Who Ran Red Light

A video has captured a Toyota Alphard running a red light at the pelican crossing near the Bundaran HI bus stop, opposite the Pullman Hotel on Jalan M Thamrin, Central Jakarta.

The driver’s actions were deemed dangerous to pedestrians crossing at the zebra crossing, prompting a security guard at the location to issue a reprimand. However, in the viral video, several people from the black Alphard bearing number plate D 1828 XHQ were alleged to have intimidated the guard who had reprimanded them.

In response to the viral video and the ensuing controversy over the alleged intimidation, the Governor of Jakarta said he had repeatedly reviewed CCTV footage of the incident.

Pramono chose to side with the security guard who reprimanded the Alphard driver, and asked that he not be dismissed from his job over the controversy.

Pramono also delivered a special message to the law enforcement officials handling the case. He asked them to impose sanctions on the Alphard driver who ran the red light.

According to Pramono, if the case is not resolved properly, the Alphard driver will feel powerful and unrepentant for his actions.

“So the person who committed the violation should be the one sanctioned, and I have already requested this from law enforcement. If this cannot be resolved properly, then the violator will act as though he is above the law even though he was in the wrong — he must be sanctioned,” Pramono told journalists at Jakarta City Hall on Friday (24/7), as quoted by detikcom.

According to Pramono, the security guard was merely carrying out his duty to protect the safety of pedestrians. As such, he said, the guard does not deserve punishment, let alone dismissal.

“So once again, I ask that the security guard not be dismissed and continue to be employed as usual. He was the one doing his job, and everyone can see from the CCTV, including the more complete footage actually held by the Jakarta Provincial Government. We also know exactly whose angry face was shown,” continued the PDIP politician.

On the other hand, he said it was the Alphard driver who was in the wrong. He added that the Alphard was also suspected of using fake number plates that did not match the original vehicle.

“The guard in question was actually carrying out his duty very well. It was clear that the Alphard was the one violating the rules. We also received a report that the car was using fake plates,” he said.

Earlier, regarding the suspected fake number plates on the problematic Alphard, the Traffic Directorate of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police stepped in.

Head of the Law Enforcement Sub-Directorate at the Jakarta Metropolitan Police Traffic Directorate, AKBP Ojo Ruslani, said his side would summon the Alphard driver as well as the security personnel to give statements about the incident.

“I will issue a summons for clarification to the Alphard owner, then a summons for the security guard involved in the altercation with the Alphard driver. After that, we will bring them face to face at the Law Enforcement Sub-Directorate,” Ojo said in his statement on Thursday (23/7).

Ojo said the summons process would examine the incident thoroughly, including the alleged use of fake plates on the Alphard.

“The examination will cover everything related to the incident — the incident itself, the vehicle used, the articles we will apply, and so on,” he said.

Based on a CNNIndonesia.com check of the Samsat service feature on the official West Java Regional Revenue Agency website (bapenda.jabarprov.go.id), the number plate in question is registered to a Daihatsu, metallic silver in colour.

Head of the Menteng Metro Police, AKBP Braiel Arnold Rondonuwu, said the tension between the Alphard occupants and the security guard had been mediated at the Thamrin police post, also known as the Bundaran HI police post.

Braiel said both the Alphard party and the security guard had come to the police post seeking help to resolve the matter through mediation. Subsequently, both parties agreed to make peace, forgive one another and shake hands.

“The matter was settled amicably through mediation assisted by the post commander at the Thamrin police post. After it was resolved, the driver continued his journey and the security guard returned to work,” he told journalists on Thursday.