South Kalimantan Police Commissioner Defiant After Smoking While Driving Faces Double Sanctions

The South Kalimantan Regional Police (Polda Kalsel) is processing disciplinary action against a mid-level officer holding the rank of Ajun Komisaris Besar Polisi (AKBP) who was defiant after being reprimanded for smoking while driving a car. Footage of the AKBP’s behaviour has gone viral and drawn attention on social media. Recently, Polda Kalsel confirmed that the AKBP faces layered sanctions related to his viral antics. The man was smoking while driving a car with the window open on a public road and was not wearing a seatbelt. Head of Public Relations for Polda Kalsel, Kombes Adam Erwindi, stated that the AKBP is threatened with two sanctions: a traffic ticket and an ethical code violation. “He will be sanctioned with a ticket and ethical code, because it’s a traffic violation so he will be ticketed,” said Adam on Thursday (7/5), quoted from detikKalimantan. Adam explained that the ethical code sanction is being imposed on the police officer because the violation occurred while he was a member of the Indonesian National Police (Polri) and wearing his uniform. “He will face an ethical code hearing because he is a Polri member,” Adam added. Regarding the amount of the ticket fine for the errant officer, Adam did not yet know. He replied that the ticket amount will be determined during the ticket hearing. “Wait for the ticket hearing first, then pay during the hearing,” said Adam. The ticket sanction is in accordance with Law Number 22 of 2009 on Road Traffic and Transportation (LLAJ). Article 283 regulates sanctions for drivers who are not concentrated, including due to smoking. “Every person who drives a motor vehicle on the road in an improper manner and engages in other activities or is influenced by a condition that causes a disturbance in concentration while driving as referred to in Article 106 paragraph (1) shall be punished with imprisonment for a maximum of 3 (three) months or a maximum fine of Rp750,000,” states the article. Previously, Adam on behalf of Polda Kalsel expressed apologies for the unsympathetic actions of the AKBP that subsequently went viral. In the viral video recording, an officer from Polda Kalsel with the rank of AKBP is seen driving a car without wearing a seatbelt. The man was also caught smoking while driving with the car window open on the road. When reprimanded by a citizen, the uniformed police officer instead acted arrogantly and recorded the citizen back using his mobile phone while mentioning ‘jealous’ because they couldn’t be like him. The police officer in uniform was seen driving a black Mazda sedan with a private/white licence plate DA XXXX NG. “I, as the Head of Public Relations for Polda Kalsel, apologise for the incident,” said Adam to reporters on Wednesday (6/5). Furthermore, Adam assured that similar cases will not recur in the future. According to him, this case has become evaluation material for the entire ranks to always maintain attitude and be role models in public spaces. “This becomes a lesson for us going forward, hopefully no more members commit violations,” he said.