Police Investigate 'Pak Ogah' Thuggery in West Jakarta

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Police are investigating alleged illegal levies (pungli) and thuggery carried out by illegal traffic controllers, or ‘Pak Ogah’, on Jalan Raya Kapuk, Cengkareng, West Jakarta. The incident went viral on social media after video footage showed several men allegedly forcing car drivers passing through the intersection of Jalan Raya Kapuk and Jalan Kapuk Kamal Raya to provide money.

“It has been monitored, and we are investigating to identify the perpetrators,” said AKP Parman Gultom, Head of Criminal Investigation at the Cengkareng Police Sector, when confirmed in Jakarta on Wednesday. Parman emphasised that personnel had been deployed to the crime scene to conduct inspections and hunt down the individuals causing unrest among road users.

According to gathered information, the extortion attempt occurred on Monday (1/6) night at approximately 21:00 WIB. In the circulating video, one perpetrator is seen approaching and following a silver minibus, reaching his hand through the slightly open driver’s window.

“It happens every day; they usually force money from truck drivers, especially those with out-of-town license plates, or public transport drivers,” said Rafli, a local witness. While their presence sometimes helps alleviate congestion, Rafli lamented the intimidation and coercion frequently employed by these individuals.

Tania (26), a motorcyclist, shared similar grievances, stating she had been a victim of verbal abuse by the illegal controllers. She noted that the perpetrators work in groups using a shift system.

“The group on duty from late afternoon until night is usually the most troublesome. I was once shouted at with profanities simply for passing through while the road was congested,” Tania said. Local residents are calling on the police and relevant authorities to take firm action and deploy official personnel to high-congestion areas to ensure public safety and comfort on the roads.