Police urge public to beware of bogus police officers

Police urge public to beware of bogus police officers

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

If you happen to be driving along a quiet road and some police
officers stop you, make sure to request proof of their identity
as there are many fraudsters masquerading as police officers on
the city's streets, Jakarta Police Headquarters warned on
Tuesday.

Residents are therefore advised not to hesitate to demand to
see the officers' ID cards, warrants or other relevant documents.

Residents should also carefully note the identity of officers,
including their names and the units to which they belong.

Reports are legion of confidence tricksters in police uniforms
stopping motorists to check their documents. But in the end, the
motorists are required to hand over cash on one pretext or
another.

"Even if they are wearing police uniforms, be careful and be
courageous enough to ask them to identify themselves or their
units, politely of course," said Jakarta Police spokesman Sr.
Comr. Prasetyo.

Prasetyo urged residents to report any incidents of conmen
pretending to be police officers.

"If you are suspicious, don't hesitate to report them
immediately to the police on 112," said Prasetyo, referring to
the police emergency 112 service, calls to which police boast
will be answered within 15 minutes.

The latest incident was reported by Paulus Tarigan, a resident
of Jl. Pinang V in Pondok Labu, South Jakarta, on Tuesday at 2:50
a.m.

Tarigan told police he was playing cards with three other
residents. They were shocked by the arrival of six unidentified
men who claimed to be police officers, who then aimed their
pistols at the cardplayers. The "officers" snatched cash
amounting to Rp 580,000 (US$65) and a cellular phone, and escaped
in a Kijang van.

Prasetyo attributed the rising trend in phoney policemen to a
lack of control and supervision over the trade in police uniforms
and attributes.

"There is no regulation governing the buying and selling of
military and police uniforms or attributes so that anyone,
including civilians, can purchase the uniforms," said Prasetyo.

He warned that many bogus policemen were quite brazen and did
not hesitate to operate at police headquarters or stations.

"You should be suspicious if they invite you to settle your
problem in an 'amicable way' outside a police station," he
explained.

Prasetyo vowed to eradicate the bogus policemen by acting
resolutely against them.

"We will crush them. We will arrest them. Don't worry," said
the police spokesman, adding that the phoney policemen tarnished
the force's image.

Commenting on bogus policemen who committed crimes by
threatening their victims with firearms, Prasetyo said they would
be dealt with even more severely.

"Their extortion and physical threats will be answered with
even tougher action," he said.

Article 365 of the Criminal Code stipulates that anyone
committing a robbery or theft using the threat of violence shall
be subject to a maximum term of nine-years imprisonment. Heavier
sentences of up to 12 years can be imposed if the offense is
committed, for example, at night, in a home or on the public
highway, or results in severe injuries.