A police officer in South Sulawesi has been demoted from his position after he was caught on film driving past a hit-and-run victim, with the cop now publicly expressing his remorse.
The officer in question, identified by his initials MM, is a traffic police officer with the South Sulawesi Police’s Highway Patrol Unit (PJR). Last Saturday, MM was driving a police car along the road that connects Bulukumba and Sinjai regencies when he passed by a hit-and-run victim.
In the video above, local residents can be heard screaming for help, while people behind the camera expressed their shock upon seeing the police car driving away from the scene, even when he was passing by people who were trying to help the victim, who had been lying on the road.
As if this is an acceptable excuse, the head of Bulukumba Police’s Traffic Unit, Andika, said that the officer was in a hurry to get to an assignment when he drove by that particular route.
“[The police car] in the video wasn’t from the Bulukumba Police, the officers from Bulukumba Police arrived several minutes after because it took some time from the city to the scene due to the distance,” Andika said.
Meanwhile, Chief of South Sulawesi’s Traffic Directorate Frans Santoe said yesterday that MM has been demoted from his position as a road patrol officer in Libureng district, Bone regency to a staff position at the PJR unit after this incident, with his case being processed by the police’s Internal Affairs Division (Propam).
Frans also said MM had been in a hurry for an escort assignment in Libureng, which is located pretty far from the scene, claiming that MM had shared information about the accident with the Bulukumba police.
The difference between life and death following an accident seems to have totally missed the police officer, and regret only came later.
“In principle, he is remorseful that he didn’t stop to help the victim,” Frans said, while also conveying his apology on behalf of MM.
Bulukumba Police are now investigating the traffic accident case, and are still looking into possible suspects. Authorities have reportedly visited the victim, who is currently recovering from her injuries, at her family home.
