Residents' testimony about Aiptu Harmanto rejecting bribes and becoming a problem solver

Aiptu Harmanto is recognised as an honest police officer by residents of Wagom Village, Fakfak Regency, West Papua. The Wagom village Bhabinkamtibmas is also a problem solver for the community in his assigned village.

For his contributions, Aiptu Harmanto has been proposed as a candidate for the Hoegeng Awards 2026 by Wagom residents led by Maidrus Hindom. He praises Harmanto for always being present in the midst of residents’ problems and helping to handle them.

‘He is authoritative; we as the community also consider him to be very good. Always providing solutions, whether in police duties or outside police work he always helps,’ Maidrus told detikcom on Wednesday (18/2/2026).

Maidrus noted that disputes frequently occur in Wagom, Parwari District, Fakfak Regency. Yet he feels fortunate that there is Aiptu Harmanto who acts as a problem-solver and unravels dead ends.

‘Whenever there is a problem in the RT (neighbourhood association), in our environment there are usually disputes between neighbours; he comes to mediate. Before he escalates to the Police Resort (Polres), usually Mr Harmanto mediates first, unless the matter is extremely serious, in which case it is referred to the Police. If it can be settled at the RT/kelurahan level, he usually mediates directly,’ he said.

As a civilian, Maidrus has come to know Aiptu Harmanto through various police public outreach activities with the local community. From there, he often collaborates with and participates in Harmanto’s activities to maintain security and public order in his neighbourhood.

Because of the frequent collaboration, Maidrus grew more familiar with Aiptu Harmanto. On one occasion he personally witnessed Harmanto refusing a bribe when handling a public nuisance issue, namely the circulation of alcoholic beverages.

‘That is indeed the reality (Aiptu Harmanto refused a bribe). There was an incident in which there was an alcohol case and they offered him money to keep quiet, but he refused. If you call him honest, he truly is honest,’ Maidrus said.

‘I once saw it once, a bribe to keep quiet. To enable the circulation of alcohol, Mr Harmanto admonished and forbade any circulation; the person offered a bribe, but Harmanto would not accept it. It was subsequently dealt with, reported to the Police, and acted upon,’ he added.

Recently, Rasid Wadjo, head of Wagom, also spoke regarding Harmanto’s honesty in refusing bribes because he upholds the rules. According to him, Harmanto helps the community selflessly.

‘The bribes were like they were trying to sell alcoholic drink, so we arrested them in a sting, but asked not to be processed. (He said) it cannot be, because there is a legal process for resolution. So the resolution must proceed,’ Rasid said.

Harmanto, Rasid added, also refused bribes relating to settlement of land disputes. He said Harmanto always enforces the rules without favouring either party and provided accountability.

‘In land disputes, the settlement would seek personal gain; if someone wanted to bribe, he said he couldn’t, the process is clear because in our kelurahan we establish rules such as who has clear legal status, so we continue to process until he refuses bribes,’ he said.

Similarly, Saleha, the head of RT 23 in Wagom Village, expressed that Harmanto is firm yet inclusive in coordinating RTs to combat alcohol circulation across their areas.

‘For example yesterday, I had residents who bought alcohol. I found out they were carrying drinks, so I contacted him; he came and we did a joint inspection of the drinks—about 60 litres. We took them together,’ Saleha said.

‘Then he spoke to me, ’Madam, do not accept compensation from the person who owns the drinks; you must not, because we work according to the rules’. I said I was ready, I also work according to the rules, and we carried it out together,’ he added.

Aiptu Harmanto’s explanation

Aiptu Harmanto had previously been a candidate for Hoegeng Corner 2025 proposed by Fakfak Police. Harmanto has served as Bhabinkamtibmas of Wagom Village since 2015.

‘So our tasks outside our official duties, we still carry them out according to our conscience so that government programmes run well. In particular, how we consistently protect the community and provide special guarantees to those who are less able with regard to legal disparities,’ Harmanto said in an interview with detikcom on Monday (6/10/2025).

Harmanto said land disputes are frequently faced by residents. There were parties who attempted to bribe Harmanto so that the case would not go to court.

‘There are also several residents who suddenly have problems and ask us to help them make what is wrong become right, as if we are aiding them; but we persist in refusing on the basis that we are role models in the community and therefore cannot accept bribes,’ Harmanto said.

‘However, it even happened that we ended up having to provide money to the community, given our duties as Bhabin, and budgeting issues too, where the budget is used for the community’s needs whenever we feel they require our help; we provide groceries or whatever,’ he added.

Harmanto stated that those who commit wrongdoing by residents must be acted upon. That, he said, is to prevent repeat offences and ensure that no party is disadvantaged.

‘If the offers to us do not specify amounts, only ’if this, we will say thanks’, but they never mention a sum,’ he said.

In addition to land issues, alcohol problems are also common in Harmanto’s area. He noted bribe attempts by alcohol sellers.

‘Moreover, there are many who sell it here, apologies, alcohol; if caught red-handed, they are very … how we can help them, with that effort they continue, but we still direct them toward such matters.’