Truck driver receives commendation from Indonesian police for uploading video of officers asking for bribe

While the Indonesian police have promised many reforms to clean up their notoriously corrupt institution, many people remain afraid to openly accuse the police of misconduct for fear of reprisal. But when a video of police officers in South Kalimantan shamelessly asking for a bribe went viral recently, National Police Chief Tito Karnavian ordered the local police to investigate the incident and reward the uploader if it turned out to be real.

The video was shot on Aug 8 and shows two officers of the South Labuan Amas Police in South Kalimantan extorting a bribe from a truck driver referred to as Cecep. The senior officer comes to the door, cigarette in mouth, and immediately asks the driver for money. The driver offers Rp 50,000 but the officer refuses. They start haggling and eventually the driver agrees to give Rp 100,000.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BXxKaTRHX64/

After the video was shared by popular Instagram news account @infia_fact and went viral, Hulu Sungai Tengah Police Chief Mugi Sekar Jaya confirmed last week that the video was real and involved two of his officers, both of whom are currently under investigation by internal affairs. Mugi said he was sorry for the behavior of his officers that had tarnished the reputation of the police force.

In the past, some members of the public have been threatened with investigation and allegations of defamation for reporting on or recording dirty cops. Police Chief Tito said that if the recording turned out to be fake, the uploader could be charged with defamation under the Law on Electronic Transactions and Information (UU ITE), but if it was real the uploader should be rewarded.

After the video was verified, the driver in and uploader of the video, Ade Ridwan Syahroni, was given a certificate by South Kalimantan Police Chief Rachmat Mulyana. It says it recognizes the “bravery and concern” of a citizen that would record a police officer asking for a bribe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-THDHxliDM8

Hopefully, this will inspire more people to record police corruption, but it won’t do much if the police don’t also do something to protect Ade and those like him from certain parties who might be angered by the “bravery and concern” of such citizens.



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