Bali traffic cops jailed for extortion

Two Bali traffic police officers caught on camera accepting a bribe from a tourist have been sent to jail and seen their chances of promotion suspended.

National Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Agus Rianto said on Tuesday that the Bali Police ethics committee had decided to detain the two officers, Second Insp. Komang Sarjana and Brig. Putu.

“The institution has postponed police training for the two officers for one year. The sanctions are different due to their respective roles,” Agus said.

The case was revealed after a recording of them asking a tourist for money went viral on YouTube earlier this month. In the recording, Komang stopped a Dutch tourist, Kees van der Spek, near Lio Square police post in northern Kuta for not wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle.

Komang suggested that Van der Spek give him Rp 200,000 (US$20.59) to avoid paying a bigger fine at Denpasar District Court. After receiving the Rp 200,000, the policeman invited Van der Spek to have a beer with fellow officer Indra at the police post. (Jakarta Post)