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)