Phony journalists scare officials

BOGOR (JP): Regent Agus Utara Efendi spoke out against phony journalists loitering at the regency office and ordered staff not to divulge any information to them.

He said bodrek (people who impersonate reporters) were bothering officials at the office for money.

"The odd part is many high-ranking officials are terrified of them and run away each time the phony reporters come by," Agus said during the installment of 185 health officials on Thursday.

The individuals posing as reporters usually have a difficult manner compared to the real ones, he added.

Agus said a lot of classified information at the office was leaked to the phony reporters.

He cited an example of a draft letter written in the afternoon which turned into an opportunity for the reporters to extort officials related to the matter the following morning.

"Not all matters need to be scrutinized by reporters and not all offices can be trespassed by them. We're all free to mingle here, but do not let reporters interfere with other people's jobs," Agus said. (21/edt)