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Satpol PP questions Ombudsman’s findings on collection of unauthorized fees
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Some Satpol PP officers (in dark brown uniforms) patrol the Tanah Abang area in Central Jakarta on Oct. 18, where the sidewalks are occupied by street vendors. (Antara Foto/Rivan Awal Lingga)
T
he deputy chairman of the Jakarta Public Order Agency (Satpol PP), Hidayatullah, questioned the findings of Indonesian Ombudsman revealing that its members allegedly collected unauthorized fees from street vendors in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta.
He said that he had been a Tanah Abang district head for six years and knew the characteristics of gangs that backed street vendors who were operating illegally.
"The gang members may use slander [to create any accusation]," Hidayatullah said on Friday as quoted by kompas.com.
The gang even lied by telling vendors to give them money, claiming it would be delivered to the local administration, including the heads of community unit (RW) and the neighborhood unit (RT).
However, he appreciated the ombudsman’s findings and promised to follow up by asking for the names of the Satpol PP members involved as well as evidence of illegal fee collection.
Jakarta Satpol PP supervision unit head Lamsar Nainggolan said some of his officers indeed had let some street vendors continue operating, but he did not say whether they had received any unauthorized fees from them.
Ombudsman revealed on Thursday that some Satpol PP officers asked for unauthorized fees from street vendors in six areas in the city, one of which is Tanah Abang, in return for permission to conduct their business activities.
The Ombudsman commissioner, Adrianus Meliala, said the officers had received money from gangs who backed the street vendors. (yon)
