House member: Perpetrators checking vehicle chassis numbers must be prosecuted
Jakarta (ANTARA) - House Commission III member Abdullah has said that perpetrators of the act of checking vehicle chassis numbers without clear authority, also known as ‘ngolong’, must be punished because the act constitutes a criminal offence.
“Those who are not authorised to inspect vehicle chassis numbers, but still do so, must be prosecuted,” said Abduh, as he is familiarly known, in a statement in Jakarta on Thursday.
The legislator from the commission overseeing law enforcement was referring to recent ‘ngolong’ incidents, including one at the Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) sports complex.
It is known that the Metro Jaya Regional Police are investigating a viral video showing two unidentified men allegedly checking the chassis numbers of four-wheeled vehicles parked in the GBK area.
According to Abduh, similar incidents have also occurred in other locations, such as car parks, shopping centres, hospitals and apartment buildings.
He said that when a chassis number is successfully obtained by unauthorised individuals, the personal data of the vehicle owner is potentially leaked. This is dangerous if personal data obtained without permission is used for unlawful acts.
“For example, there have been several incidents where suspected debt collectors and ‘mata elang’ (spotters) stopped vehicles in the middle of the road to match vehicle identities, including chassis numbers, even though the owners bought the vehicles in cash or had already paid them off. This could become another criminal problem,” he said.
Therefore, he asked the police not only to expose the field perpetrators. According to him, the parties using the debt collection services must also be thoroughly exposed.
“The leasing companies that employ the suspected debt collectors or ‘mata elang’ must also be revealed to the public and of course must be given firm action, ranging from administrative sanctions by the Financial Services Authority (OJK) to criminal sanctions,” he said.
On the other hand, he urged that the arbitrary act of checking vehicle chassis numbers be stopped because it has created unrest in the community.
“I am concerned that this illegal action will be met with anger by the public. If this happens, the losses, both material and immaterial, will be even greater. So, stop carrying out the ‘ngolong’ action,” said Abduh.