Police Bribery & Graft
Dec 11th, 2007, in News, by PatungThe police object to being labelled the most commonly bribed institution.
Transparency International released its “Global Corruption Barometer 2007” on 6th December ranking state institutions on a corruption scale of 0-5.
The results, based on questions asked to 1,010 people in Jakarta, Surabaya and Bandung, show the competition for most corrupt was fierce, with the police narrowly winning as the public officials most likely to take bribes: transparency.org
- Police Force – 4.2
- Judiciary – 4.1
- Parliament – 4.1
- Political Parties – 4.0
- Registry & Permit Services – 3.8
- Tax Authorities – 3.6
- Business/Private Sector – 3.1
- Utilities – 3.1
- Military – 3.0
- Education System – 3.0
- NGO’s – 2.8
- Medical Services – 2.8
- Media – 2.5
- Religious Bodies – 2.2
31% of people said they had paid a bribe to obtain services, higher than the 22% average for the Asia Pacific region.
Sisno Adiwinoto.
The police are extremely unhappy about the report, with General Sisno Adiwinoto saying that TI’s Indonesian branch, Transparency International Indonesia (TII), which is led by lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis, will be investigated, and attempts will be made to find out who responded in the survey.
Our intel is on the job, we’re finding out who they are.
Sisno further said that TII were a part of foreign espionage and interference in Indonesia, and that Todung had political aspirations in the 2009 elections.
Todung Mulya Lubis.
Sisno suspected all of this because this was the third time TII had said the police were the most corrupt, yet the police had already carried out internal reforms. After investigating, members of TII could be prosecuted for tarnishing the good name of the police, he said. tempo
Meanwhile, earlier this month, General Sisno Adiwinoto was again on the defensive, saying a video of two Canadian tourists in Bali paying off police for a traffic offence could have been manipulated or faked. detik
This article in Indonesian – Suap dan Korupsi Kepolisian.
29 Comments on “Police Bribery & Graft”
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iamisaid says:
Oh heavens! the list of 14 covers the entire spectrum of Indonesian soceity.
I do not think that this will be the last watchdog list.
The sequel? The entire nation goes into a state of denial.
Then more rank reports like Bribery and Graft will be a nationwide sports.
Next report might include :
* Children (demanding bribes from their parents or else ……)
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dewaratugedeanom says:
IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR TOURISTS VISITING BALI
The Bali police have introduced a hotline number to fight corruption on the police force. This is aimed at police officers extorting money from tourists as the rogue officers are hurting the island’s image at home and abroad. The 24-hour tourist police hotline, which is (0361) 224111, reach the Police Headquarters and English-speaking officers are standing by to assist tourists who are being ripped off or unlawfully challenged by rogue officers.
Of course you can also choose to pay a bribe. Between 10.000 IRP and 20.000 IRP is common practice.
Welcome to Bali. Always keep your money or your handy at reach.
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People who can speak Bahasa Indonesia can also threaten to telephone to Radio Global. Radio Global is a radio station where one can publicly explain on air his/her grievances. Next day a transcript is published in the Bali Post. Those who are familiar with Bali know what I mean. I have tried it once and it worked.
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Hi dewaratugedeanom,
Thanks for sharing that information.
Hopefully, there will be a concerted effort like what is done in Bali for other parts of Indonesia.
It is a small step forward but Indonesia should not isolate the efforts . More momentum and much more impetus is required in a systematic and sustained way to snuff corrupt practices in Indonesia.
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Oigal says:
Of course, it would help if the Police were paid a wage that is possible to live decently on. Idiot smart arse tourists, kind of shame they didn’t get to play the system for real..Find out what fun it really is in a cell for the night. Now that would make a good video.
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raden says:
Hua ha ha ha …. I like youtube, a technology which did not exist 10 years ago, we shall make the similar video more and publish it more.
– the police face is very disguisting
– his english is very shameful like orang kampung
– he gave 2 options to solve the problems with money, this policeman lost his dignity !
– very popular kind of corruption not only in Bali
We should buy handphone with video streaming features which then very quickly to upload and publish it into youtube. VERY GOOD IDEA -
pj_bali says:
Actually Oigal makes a good point. The police are poorly paid. Its also a big hassle for everybody to take a traffic violation to court – hence the bribe. A better solution might be to simplify the process so that violations could be paid without having to give up your drivers license.
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“Actually Oigal makes a good point. The police are poorly paid.”
The entire Indonesian populace is poorly paid. Why make the police an exception?
Besides, even if the Indonesian police salary scheme is revised upwards, will that mean that the police force will be less corrupt?
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Dragonwall says:
Why not! First they are the law enforcement but it is also they themselves that were everyday looking for a way or if the opportunity arise for them to get money, be it for their own or colluding with their colleagues.
In our everyday life, police personnel are involved in corruption that happens everywhere with regardless of a domestic squabble to traffice accidents to smuggling and trafficking and murders with endless list.
None whosoever would stand up to fight them. Even if they did the outcome will not be as bright and worse still if you are in the accuse/suspect possition the end result will be either being place in the slammer or pay your way out.
Most will choose the latter to avoid trouble and none of them would want to come forward to report the bribery or corruption or extortion for fear of retaliation by the person involve.
Sutanto claims to be a clean person that is anti-gambling with Tommy Winata his main target for what was done to him while he was the head of police in Medan.
Is he also involves in sharing the stake?So these two guys have to pay fine there in Denpasar or here just 50,000 rupiahs..ha.ha.ha.. manay many tourist..accident..No Good.. Shit
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Meanwhile, earlier this month, General Sisno Adiwinoto was again on the defensive, saying a video of two Canadian tourists in Bali paying off police for a traffic offence could have been manipulated or faked.
LOL
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Assuming by adjusting upward the police’ salary can eventually eradicate the rampant corruption is a wrong assumption.
Want a proof ? do u know how much money policeman looking for uang haram from cukong maksiat & cukong bandar judi ? that is the kind of the amount they are looking for … no country in the world can match Indonesian police’s real total income (the sum of the halal + the haram money).Is the low salary the real culprit ? when the moral dignity lost, what can you expect from people like that ?
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Yeah, it’s called “uang damai” … or peace money
Say “Damai aja deh pak…” then slip around 50.000 rupiahs (or more) while giving the teke* your drivers license card
teke: cops, dirty cops, undercover cops
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Waduhhhhh! thanks Marisa,
One more to add to my Bahasa Indonesia vocabulary – “Damai aja deh pak”
I must repeat that 500 times so that when I need to use it, it will come out very smooth and comfortably. Ha ha ha ha ha ha
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iamisaid, when you start to be fluent and got stuck with that, then that would the beginning of trouble come your way..ha.ha..ha.better not.
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The trouble with the video from Youtube is that people might think that it is only the rich tourists who are coerced into bribery.
An Indonesian policeman is a guy with a gun. No more, no less. Also for the locals. -
The video shows the person was ushered into a private room with a hidden camera filming the process with vivid word speech and action that was those of the ” kepala polisi’ and would not be difficult to find out who that police officer is.
He said either you pay fine in Denpasar or here plus (the two options) fine here..amidst laughter.
There weren’t for those rich guys I suppose! But just because those guy were caught riding a bike without his licence (in the hotel) and a subordinate officer showing that guy the sample of international driving licence that was available in the police station and telling him this no good that no good, no kanada here..kind of stuffs… ‘Malu Maluin aja..Ya korupsi merdeka-Bukan Merah Putih tetapi Coklat Putih’..
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Hi dragonwall,
You said: “iamisaid, when you start to be fluent and got stuck with that, then that would the beginning of trouble come your way..ha.ha..ha.better not.”
me: Haiyo ! like that oso can meh? Mati aku. Ha ha ha ha ha
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iamisaid, are you Chinese Cantonese when you sayoso can meh.
The words like Marisa put them as “Damai aja de Pak”. You are asking for compromise or private settlement. If you were to meet someone who is really clean and thick headed, then you are heading for trouble. For example like in Hongkong or Singapore when such things happened, they will gladly accept that on face value, but on the other hand they will take that as proof by bringing some of his colleagues as witness and said you tried to bla..bla..bla.. then you are heading to jail. Not Fine.
In the US if you forgets to bring your driver’s licence and you apologise to highway patrol they will give you a reminder, but a bribe like “damai aja de pak” then they’re gonna get you right.
But if these words were to use in a traffice accident between both person involve and trying to save the trouble of insurance and suit then perhaps it could be applicable. Anything besides the law. I hope not.
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Hi dragonwall,
No, I am not Chinese Cantonese and most horribly to my great disadvantage I cannot speak any Chinese dialect or Mandarin. I do understand and speak a smattering of Hokkien but that’s fading fast. However, I understand and am able to say all the cuss words in ALL the Chinese dialects. Ha ha ha ha
I picked up some of these wonderful Chinglish words from another blog where they are mostly Chinese members. LOL !
My mother, God Rest her soul, is Chinese but my Dad, God rest his soul too was a fearsome guy who made English and nothing but English the language at home. So, even my mother eventually forgot her own mother tongue.
My wife is Shanghainese and she hates it when I try to speak Chinese. Says it gives her goose pimples.
And thanks for your pointers.
Cheers,
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I think it is more about the mentality rather than “being poorly paid”.
two things:
1. bad system
to become a police, you need to pay something, to get into higher rank. So, they need to earn the money back.
After all, if everyone else is doing it, and that is the only rule, they dont have a choice.
2. mentality
corruption corruption corruption. if they are taught that way in home, and their mindset is like that, who can blame on salary? if they have high moral standard, being poorly paid will not be an issue.yare yare.. just another indonesian phenomena.
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Hi orgindo,
You said : “to become a police, you need to pay something, to get into higher rank. So, they need to earn the money back.:
Firstly, I agree with your point of view, namely; bad system and mentality.
And yes, I have known a real case from a poor family in Indonesia. The youngest and last child, a girl was in search for a job. The father had to borrow 10 million Rupiahs that was demanded from someone who would get his daughter a job with the Navy.
I suppose that happens as you say with the Police too.
And these uniformed Officers are forced to seek for bribes in order to settle the large amounts of money that was borrowed to get themselves employed.
That really, really sucks big time!
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that was exactly my previous point.
Based on your story, why would the parent paid Rp 10 million to secure her girl for Navy position ? I were never do or can justify that, because it starts from wrong employment term.
So, majority Indonesian are pleasing & condoning the beraucracy’ sinful acts and it gets bigger & bigger like snowballing effect.
If you are a clean & honest person then do not join them, do not even beg to be part of their wrong employment term, why should you feed your family with uang haram ??
unfortunately majority of pribumi think the ‘easy way’. So, who’s faults ? -
Hi raden,
You asked: “why would the parent paid Rp 10 million to secure her girl for Navy position ?”
My answer: I don’t know. The next time I’m there and if I meet him, I might tell him that a certain person by the name of raden wishes to know.
And I shall add that raden has also this more to convey. That he is pleasing and condoning the bureaucracy’s sinful acts and that if he was a clean and honest person he should not join them and he should not beg for wrong employment term.
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Peter says:
1. Police Force – 4.2
2. Judiciary – 4.1
3. Parliament – 4.1
4. Political Parties – 4.0Those are some pretty important institutions there.. pretty embarrassing for Indonesia.
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Enigmatic says:
Peter Says: +1
December 14th, 2007 at 11:00 pm
1. Police Force – 4.2
2. Judiciary – 4.1
3. Parliament – 4.1
4. Political Parties – 4.0Those are some pretty important institutions there.. pretty embarrassing for Indonesia.
I concur…
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panera says:
A very low salary is what drive some of the police take some bribe to get their end meet. If they get desent salary this insident will nenver accured.
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A very low salary is what drive some of the police take some bribe to get their end meet. If they get desent salary this insident will nenver accured.
The salary of an Indonesian policeman is far better than that of the majority of his compatriots. If everybody starts thinking like that Indonesia will become a nation of thieves.
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perseus says:
The camera does not lie and everyone knows the Indonesian Police can be bought. Corruption is holding Indonesia down. It destroys business confidence. It destroys pride. It destroys honest work. It destroys genuine value creation. I am astonished anyone is even thinking of defending those who perpetrate this immense social evil.
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You could only be prosecuted for tarnishing the good name of the police if their name is good in the first place…..
Plus I think it’s yusril all over again…. all this formal shock and horror over corruption that they know happens every day at every level!