Update: The Indonesian Military (TNI) confirmed that the Toyota Fortuner was registered with the Ministry of Defense, and that the driver is a military captain. The driver is being questioned by the ministry and may face disciplinary sanctions with the TNI.
Original story follows below.
Jakartans are getting worked up over a display of road arrogance perpetrated by a driver of a vehicle that’s registered to a ministry, no less.
A video of the incident, taken yesterday on the Jagorawi toll road, shows a black Toyota Fortuner — a vehicle make and color combo that has increasingly become associated with prickish behavior in recent years — trying to overtake a black Toyota Avanza on a narrow emergency lane.
The Avanza, which was on the fast lane but was queuing behind other vehicles amid somewhat dense traffic conditions, did not give way to the Fortuner, which, we should stress, was attempting to violate traffic law.
The Fortuner then swerves to the left of the Avanza, after which the driver of the former takes out a handgun and points it at the Avanza in a threatening manner. The Fortuner driver then pushes in the Avanza’s left side view mirror before driving off.
The incident is especially outrageous in Indonesia, where gun violence is relatively rare due to strict controls. Those who have viewed an uncensored version of the video noticed that the Fortuner was sporting a license plate registered with the Ministry of Defense.
As of this article’s publication, authorities have not identified the Fortuner driver.
When that happens, be prepared for a cookie cutter “I had a momentary lapse in judgment” public apology.
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