On Monday, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) released a survey result on integrity of public institutions. The National Police is among those with a low score.

Head of internal affairs Comr. Gen. Nanan Soekarna said his division would follow up the integrity survey result while calling for the public to refrain from handing the police money for unduly or illicit services.

“We’re in this together. Thus I strongly call on the people not to provide space for corrupt practice when dealing with the police,” Nanan said after a meeting with KPK officials Tuesday.

The public should report any extortion or corrupt practice by the police to his division, Nanan added.
On Monday, National Police public relations officer Sr. Comr. Marwoto Soeto dismissed the KPK’s survey result, saying that it did not bear any significance as the police had given their best.

Bambang Widodo Umar, police expert from the University of Indonesia, said a defensive attitude would not help the police much as several earlier reports suggested that the KPK survey only confirmed the widespread perception about police corrupt practice in dealing with the public.

“Form a joint team consisting of the KPK and the police internal affairs to seek proof on alleged corrupt practice,” Bambang, a former police officer, told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

“A thorough monitoring system that provides a firm reward and punishment mechanism must follow the investigation or else the police will lose momentum to reform and revert to old habits,” he said.

Nanan said the public, however, must acknowledge improvements on several public service desks such as the driving license application procedure, which employs an online system and mobile units to reach out to the public and reduce the presence of middlemen.

Another improvement, Nanan went on, was an after-hour service for those who need a “good conduct record” to prove they do not have criminal records when applying for jobs.

Neta S. Pane of Indonesian Police Watch criticized Nanan for blaming the people for corrupt practices.

“Doesn’t he know that people are often forced to bribe because they know they won’t receive service without providing extra money?” Neta said.

Reports stated that owners who want to retrieve their cars from the police must supply extra
funds.  Others say that if they want to make sure their relatives are not subject to violence from inmates
under police custody, they also have to pay.

— JP/Dicky Christanto

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