If you’ve ever wondered why so many buses in Jakarta are so shoddy and their drivers so negligent, it’s probably because they rarely answer to authority or any kind of regulation, as highlighted by this ugly incident.
Yesterday, Bambang Sutrisno, a Jakarta Transportation Agency officer assigned to the Pulogadung bus terminal, had instructions to clear the terminal of several AKAP (inter-provincial) buses that had no permit to be stationed at the terminal. But while trying to complete his task, Bambang was met with strong resistance and complaints from 30 people who work for the bus company.
Unable to expel the buses from the terminal, Bambang then followed instructions to photograph the AKAP buses as evidence of their unpermitted stay in the terminal. This provoked anger from an unidentified mob, who then ganged up on Bambang in the terminal.
The members of the mob are suspected of being affiliated with the bus company, though reports do not clearly indicate whether they were the same 30 people who complained to Bambang earlier.
The Transport Agency officer received bruises on the back of his head and on his right arm from the attack.
“We have reported the incident to the police because one of our officers was attacked by them while he was carrying out his duty. This is a form of intimidation that cannot be ignored,” said Mohammad Faisol, head of the Jakarta Transportation Agency’s terminal management department, as quoted by Kompas yesterday.
The Pulogadung police department confirmed the incident and said that they are interviewing three witnesses in relation to the attack on Bambang.
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