Police seek help to stop illegal brokers

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Sat, 07/14/2007 2:12 PM  |  Jakarta

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Police have acknowledged vehicle documents are still being processed by illegal brokers and have urged the public to stop using their services.

""We need public support. We are trying to handle this (illegal broker problem), but in order for us to succeed we need help from the public to stop seeking the services of illegal brokers,"" Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Adang Firman said Thursday.

Members of the public can report illegal brokers to the Traffic Management Center (TMC), he said.

Firman spoke on the sidelines of a ceremony to present ISO 9001:2001 certification to Vehicle Document Registration Centers, known as SAMSAT, in Central Jakarta, North Jakarta, Tangerang (Banten), Bekasi and Depok (West Java).

""At the TMC, there are on average 2,000 to 3,000 reports (each day) from members of the public,"" Firman said, adding the public can send an SMS to the police on 1717 or can call 112.

Indonesian Police Watch chairman Neta S. Pane said illegal brokers had been a problem for as long as he could remember.

""Perhaps this problem has existed ever since this republic was established,"" Neta said.

The TMC, he said, might help the public with traffic information, but has not taken steps to address complaints about illegal brokers and police officers who collect bribes at the vehicle document processing units.

Neta also said agencies offering to help the public process their vehicle documents were no different from illegal brokers.

""They charge higher fees and promise to expedite vehicle document processing.""

The official fee to process a driver's license is Rp 74,000 (about US$8), but it is not uncommon for a driver to end up paying more than Rp 300,000, Neta said.

Firman, however, insisted the agencies were different from illegal brokers.

""They are legal. I am not aware of the fees they charge for their services.""

A broker at the Jakarta Police SAMSAT said the official fee for processing a driver's license was Rp 470,000.

""I charge a client Rp 30,000 to 40,000 in addition to the fee,"" said the broker, who asked for anonymity.

""The Rp 74,000 fee is an outdated fee,"" he said, adding he worked for a service agency based in Kepa Duri, West Jakarta.

Neta said the Rp 74,000 fee was based on a 2004 government regulation on state non-taxable income.

""It has never been changed, therefore the amount is still valid."" (07)

Copyright © 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved.