Motorists who bribe officers to face trial: Hindarto

Motorists who bribe officers to face trial: Hindarto

JAKARTA (JP): City Police Chief Maj. Gen. Mochammad Hindarto
yesterday said that motorists believed to have attempted to bribe
police officers on duty will be brought to court.

"Giving bribes is a crime and hence anyone suspected of
attempting to bribe police officers on duty can be tried," he
told reporters after attending the 46th celebration of
Policewomen's Day at National Police headquarters.

Police announced on Wednesday that they have nabbed seven
people on charges of attempting to bribe police officers on duty,
including officers working at the drivers license bureau at
police headquarters, in order to speed up their vehicle permit
applications.

Col. Soeroso, chief of the traffic directorate at city police
headquarters, warned motorists not to bribe his personnel
anymore.

"Otherwise, you shall be collared like those people," he said.

Soeroso also pledged to give rewards of up to twice as much as
the bribe offered to officers who shunned bribes.

But many motorists, including drivers of public transit
vehicles, still question police seriousness in cracking down on
the "on-the-road peaceful settlements."

"I wonder whether police officers can adhere to the policy
judging from their meager salaries," a taxi driver, who refused
to be named, told The Jakarta Post.

Members of the police force, like other personnel of the Armed
Forces and government employees, receive small salaries compared
to their counterparts in more developed countries.

Meanwhile Brig. Gen. Soemarsono, the head of Directorate of
the Traffic Police at the National Police, is throwing his weight
behind the decision by the City Police to increase the traffic
fines starting Sept. 1.

"Other provinces in the country will also increase traffic
fines this month," Soemarsono said.

Under the new fine scale, which took effect yesterday across
the city, drivers of private cars and public buses can be fined
between Rp 15,000 (US$6.90) and Rp 50,000 compared to between Rp
10,000 and Rp 25,000 previously.

Jaywalkers and drivers who ignore traffic signs will be fined
Rp 10,000 while motorists caught without a license will be fined
between Rp 25,000 and Rp 150,000.

The City Police also launched yesterday an annual traffic
operation code-named Operation Zebra to mark the implementation
of the 1992 traffic law and in the run-up to the Asia- Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference in November which will be
held in Bogor and Jakarta. (bsr)