West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi: Rp10 Million Bounty on Begals Aims to Prevent Vigilantism

Bandung (ANTARA) - West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi has emphasised that the Rp10 million incentive for residents who assist in apprehending street criminals and robbers is a psychological strategy to prevent vigilante actions, rather than an encouragement to hunt down perpetrators. Dedi confirmed the cash reward will only be granted if the criminal is handed over to the police in an intact condition and has been officially designated as a suspect. “The logic is simple. For example, if there is a motorcycle thief, do not beat them to death. If there is a bounty from me, there is no need to beat them to death; it is worth Rp10 million if you hand them over. Psychologically, that will have an effect,” he said in Arcamanik, Bandung, on Friday. The former Purwakarta Regent underscored strict rules regarding the physical condition of the perpetrator upon handover by the public. The West Java Provincial Government will cancel the reward if there is evidence of abuse or excessive violence. “If they are battered, it is not allowed. They cannot be handed over in a battered state. A minor scratch might be acceptable, but if they are badly beaten, we will not give the reward,” he stated. Dedi explained that this incentive-based approach leverages a tradition of rewards to boost public vigilance and reactivate neighbourhood watch posts, or Pos Siskamling, which had declined amid rising street crime. “So this is designed to trigger people, for instance, to do night patrols. Just do the patrols. If there is a chicken thief, that is a bonus. This should motivate our citizens. We are not yet like people in developed countries; we still need to be motivated,” he explained. Responding to scepticism about this pragmatic approach, Dedi claimed the policy’s effectiveness is already being felt on the ground through increased public participation in maintaining security in the Greater Bandung agglomeration area. “My question is, what isn’t pragmatic these days? People work because they want an honorarium. If we just keep discussing things, it will never be resolved. The proof is, just last night, patrols have already become more active,” he added.