Police Investigate 21 Members of Patwal RI Allegedly Stealing Residents' Cars

JAKARTA - The Traffic Directorate (Ditlantas) of the Metro Jaya Police is investigating the alleged patrol and escort (Patwal) of a government vehicle with the number plate RI 21 who stopped a citizen's vehicle on the highway, based on a video that went viral on social media.

Dirlantas Polda Metro Jaya Brigjen Komarudin mengatakan pihak kepolisian telah mengetahui kejadian tersebut dan saat ini tengahmenelusuri lebih lanjut.

"We are investigating the monitor," he said, quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, July 2.

Komarudin emphasized that the police would call the Patwal personnel who were on duty when the incident occurred to ask for information and clarification regarding the chronology of events on the ground.

"Of course," he said when asked by the duty member to be asked for clarification.

On the other hand, Komarudin also gave an appeal to the public for mutual safety on the road.

He also asked drivers not to document or record events on the road using a mobile phone while driving a vehicle because it could endanger their own safety and other road users.

"The appeal is also for the public or motorists, if they find something that they feel is not right or not right on the road, to stop first before recording, or ask the passenger or the person next to him or her to record. Don't drive while using a mobile phone or recording," said Komarudin.

Previously, a video circulated on the Instagram social media through the @jakarta24jam.id account which was uploaded on Tuesday (30/6).

The video shows a motorcycle being driven by a police officer escorting the RI 21 official vehicle. The vehicle appears to be holding another car belonging to residents at the Senayan area intersection.

"According to the driver's statement, at that time he had been queuing to turn at the intersection. When he was about to get his turn to pass, he saw a motor patwal coming from the right," wrote the account.

The account also wrote that when the car had entered the turning area, the driver admitted that his vehicle was hit by a motorcycle until he was asked to stop. He also admitted that he had received a reprimand from the officers at the location.