Jakarta cops to face the music after festival goers, including tourists, claim they were extorted

In the most recent controversy over claims of disrespect toward guests at a party music festival this month, Jakarta authorities have reassigned 34 soldiers. &nbsp,

18 officials have already been detained in connection with the incident, and a minister has previously offered an open explanation.

The 18 imprisoned and are set to face ethics trials next year, and are among the 34 moved, according to local news channel Kompas. &nbsp,

Karyoto, the police chief in Jakarta, made the reassignment public on Thursday ( Dec. 26 ) in a circular. It affects lower- and middle-ranking officials mostly from the anti-narcotics system, news channel Jakarta Globe reported. &nbsp,

The round did not specifically mention it at the Djakarta Warehouse Project songs festival, which was held in Central Jakarta from December 13 to December 15. Despite an internal investigation being continued, the circular did not address it.

Following issues from bloggers that law enforcement officials extorted cash at the music festival, the government is now cracking down on law enforcement. &nbsp,

The event was attended by over 10, 000 people from over 52 states, according to music administrator Ismaya Live. Some 450 authorities officials were deployed, Jakarta Globe reported. &nbsp,

Some online accounts claim that officers had extorted money by making customers undergo drug testing and making threats to file criminal charges if their test benefits turned out bad. &nbsp,

An X person @Twt_Rave claimed on Dec 17 that “more than 400 Malay” were victims of bribery by Indonesian authorities and that the number totalled RM9 million ( US$ 2 million ). &nbsp,

However, 45 Malaysians were victims of alleged extortion at the time, according to investigations conducted by the Indonesian police’s Professional and Security Division ( Propam ), which oversees the enforcement of discipline and law and order of police personnel.

Inspector General Abdul Karim, the national police’s inspector general, confirmed that 2.5 billion rupiah ( US$ 153, 977 ) have been seized” as evidence” from the police officers accused of intimidating festivalgoers.

At a press conference on Tuesday ( Dec 24 ), he declared,” We will take stern action if they are proven guilty.” The policeman officers involved are from Central Jakarta and the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, he added.

If found guilty of serious moral violations, the soldiers could be dismissed from the police power, Jakarta Globe reported. Abdul Karim even made an escapistic comment regarding a distinct criminal investigation.

Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, the country’s tourism minister, has apologized for the affair, which she described as a loss in the administration’s efforts to promote Indonesia as a top tourist destination.

On Monday ( Dec 23 ), Widiyanti said,” We hope this serves as a critical lesson to ensure such incidents do not occur again, while also protecting Indonesia’s positive image on the global stage.” &nbsp,

Ismaya Live, the concert’s host, apologized on December 18 on social media and is working with the government. &nbsp,