Jakarta – The Central Java Police Inspectorate is offering Rp 5 million (US$383.88) to anyone who reports illegal levies involving police officers in the province.
"We are prepared to give Rp 5 million," Inspectorate supervisor Sr. Corm. Bambang Prayitno said in Semarang on Tuesday as reported by tempo.co.
President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo instructed National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian on Monday to eradicate illegal fees from his institution.
Bambang hopes people are not reluctant to file reports, as such reports are needed for institutional change. "We want change," he said, adding that many police officers were involved in illegal levies.
Bambang warned police officers to not accept illegal fees because his institution would impose tough sanctions against them.
Meanwhile, head representative of the Central Java Ombudsman, Sabarudin Hulu, praised the move, but he suggested that the police provide protection to anyone who files reports.
"People are reluctant to file reports because they fear criminalization," said Sabarudin. Sabarudin said his office would set up a special service area for filing reports. (bbn)