Sexual abuse and drug cases increased in 2002, police say
Sexual abuse and drug cases increased in 2002, police say
Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The National Police Headquarters recorded an increase in the
number of rape and drug cases in 2002, while other crimes showed
a decrease of 13.3 percent in comparison with last year's
statistics.
An annual report unveiled by National Police chief Gen. Da'i
Bachtiar on Monday showed that rape cases rose by 11.93 percent
while drug cases by 10.18 percent in 2002.
The report, however, failed to provide the exact number of
cases.
Most victims of rape cases reported to police were minors,
while the culprits were mostly members of their own families or
people familiar with the victims.
However, only a few rape cases were brought to court, and in
even fewer cases the perpetrators were given tough sentences.
Under the country's Criminal Code, convicted rapists face up to
five years imprisonment.
Noted criminologist Adrianus Meliala, one of Da'i's personal
advisors, said that it was difficult to explain the reason behind
the increase in the number of rape cases.
"I cannot find a reasonable explanation why the incidence of
rape is relatively high in the regions considered to be religious
areas such as in Papua, East Nusa Tenggara, several areas in
Sulawesi, and in Sumatra," Adrianus told The Jakarta Post on
Monday after the media briefing.
He said that moral decadence among the people and a lack of
attention from parents may have encouraged sexual abuse and rape.
Da'i also said that crimes involving firearms and offensive
weapons such as knives were likely to rise next year due to the
uncontrolled spread of weapons in conflict-torn areas and arms
smuggling.
He also said that transnational crimes such as terrorist
attacks, money laundering, sea piracy, drugs, cyber crime, and
economic crime, log smuggling, and poaching would still plague
the country next year.
To face those challenges, Da'i said, the police would recruit
more personnel and improve police professionalism.
"Next year we will double our intake of new personnel from
this year's 13,000 to 26,000. Our hope is that four years from
now, we can improve the ratio of police to 1:750 from the current
ratio of 1:900," said Da'i, adding that the ideal ratio was 1:300
or 1:400.
He also said that the curriculum would also change so that
police cadets spend only five months in class room study.
Currently, they study for at least ten months.
Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The National Police Headquarters recorded an increase in the
number of rape and drug cases in 2002, while other crimes showed
a decrease of 13.3 percent in comparison with last year's
statistics.
An annual report unveiled by National Police chief Gen. Da'i
Bachtiar on Monday showed that rape cases rose by 11.93 percent
while drug cases by 10.18 percent in 2002.
The report, however, failed to provide the exact number of
cases.
Most victims of rape cases reported to police were minors,
while the culprits were mostly members of their own families or
people familiar with the victims.
However, only a few rape cases were brought to court, and in
even fewer cases the perpetrators were given tough sentences.
Under the country's Criminal Code, convicted rapists face up to
five years imprisonment.
Noted criminologist Adrianus Meliala, one of Da'i's personal
advisors, said that it was difficult to explain the reason behind
the increase in the number of rape cases.
"I cannot find a reasonable explanation why the incidence of
rape is relatively high in the regions considered to be religious
areas such as in Papua, East Nusa Tenggara, several areas in
Sulawesi, and in Sumatra," Adrianus told The Jakarta Post on
Monday after the media briefing.
He said that moral decadence among the people and a lack of
attention from parents may have encouraged sexual abuse and rape.
Da'i also said that crimes involving firearms and offensive
weapons such as knives were likely to rise next year due to the
uncontrolled spread of weapons in conflict-torn areas and arms
smuggling.
He also said that transnational crimes such as terrorist
attacks, money laundering, sea piracy, drugs, cyber crime, and
economic crime, log smuggling, and poaching would still plague
the country next year.
To face those challenges, Da'i said, the police would recruit
more personnel and improve police professionalism.
"Next year we will double our intake of new personnel from
this year's 13,000 to 26,000. Our hope is that four years from
now, we can improve the ratio of police to 1:750 from the current
ratio of 1:900," said Da'i, adding that the ideal ratio was 1:300
or 1:400.
He also said that the curriculum would also change so that
police cadets spend only five months in class room study.
Currently, they study for at least ten months.