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)