Unauthorized brokers arrested

City Police arrested three women and eight men, believed to be acting as unauthorized brokers for processing driver's licenses, at police headquarters yesterday morning.

Head of the internal affair division of the City Police, Lt. Col. Anwaruddin, told reporters some of the unauthorized brokers, aged between 25 and 45 years, had been arrested on previous occasions.

"The suspects are being detained for further questioning," said Capt. Petrus, one of the arresting officers.

In their operations, the unauthorized brokers offer people going into police headquarters their services, costing between Rp 125,000 to Rp 175,000 (US$57.20 to $80) per license, depending on the category of the license and the available documents the applicant has. Through the official, but long procedure, one must spend at least Rp 60,000.

At least 1,000 people come to the City Police headquarters everyday to apply for driver's licenses or the renewal of their licenses.(bsr)