Police brace for inevitable rise in white-collar crime
Police brace for inevitable rise in white-collar crime
JAKARTA (JP): What will the biggest challenge to the National
Police be next year?
Financial crimes, at least that was the response from National
Police Chief Gen. Banurusman Astrosemitro during a press
conference to review the outgoing year and outlook for 1995.
Banurusman said that financial crimes, or white-collar crimes,
are getting more and more sophisticated and "internationalized".
Such complexity will present a major challenge to the police.
"Tackling economic crimes, in addition to 'traditional'
crimes, will be one of our top priorities in 1995," he said at
his office.
Topping the list of financial crimes in 1994 is credit card
counterfeiting.
Catching suspects is complicated because they leave the
country as quickly as they enter. "Many of the suspects are
picked up abroad in places like France and Singapore," he said.
He said the number of such crimes recorded this year actually
fell to 249 from 388 last year, though no reason for the police
to relax. "There are strong indications that economic crimes will
increase both in number and difficulty next year."
The rapid economic development in Indonesia exposes the
country to these crimes even more, he said, stressing that
international crime syndicates also will be preying on Indonesia.
A white-collar criminal could leave the country in just a
matter of minutes after committing his crime here, he said.
Catching the criminal is made even more difficult given that
Indonesia does not have extradition treaties with most countries.
Indonesia only has extradition treaties with Thailand, the
Philippines and Malaysia and is in the process of establishing
one with Australia. There is no agreement with Singapore,
considered a safe heaven for criminals from Indonesia.
At the media conference yesterday, Banurusman was accompanied
by other police top brass including Assistant for Planning and
Budgetary Affairs Maj. Gen. Yusnan H. Usman, Deputy of
Operational Affairs Maj. Gen. Koesparmono Irsan, Deputy of
Administration Affairs Maj. Gen. Aji Komaruddin and spokesman
Brig. Gen. IK Ratta.
Increase
Banurusman disclosed that a total of 166,016 crime cases were
reported throughout Indonesia this year, a fractional increase
from 164,577 recorded in 1993.
Therefore, on an average day, around 470 crimes are committed
throughout the country. Further still, one is committed every
three minutes and 10 seconds, which is a slight improvement from
one crime every three minutes and 11 seconds in 1993.
Of all the total crimes reported, police managed to solve
about 57 percent of them, about the same rate as in 1993.
Over half of the reported crimes fall into what police
categorize as conventional crimes, dominated by theft, assault,
vehicle theft, extortion and rape.
"Many of the crimes were committed by unemployed people or
laborers," Banurusman said.
There were 249 white-collar crimes, 399 drug-related offenses
and 240 cases of counterfeiting local and foreign currencies in
1994.
Banurusman explained that police work has been handicapped by
the lack of legal instruments to deal with various crimes. "We
only have at our disposal 212 'instruments' and we desperately
need new laws to help in our work."
Banurusman said police were also preoccupied with handling
demonstrations, land disputes, labor conflicts, environmental-
related crimes, traffic violations and disorder and student
brawls. There are also indications that more and more foreigners
are involved in crimes in Indonesia.
Banurusman said his force has also began thinking about
security preparations for the 1997 general election.
There was also internal consolidation within the force and 334
officers have been given sanctions for mistakes and errors they
committed.
"We'll continue to take harsh measures against our own
personnel to give a better image of the force," he said, adding
"an officer must be a model citizen." (bsr)