Hundreds Of Thousands Of Rapid Test Prices Raise, Seek Individual Profits From 'Disadvantaged' Residents

Papua Police Chief Inspector General Paulus Waterpauw (DOK.Polda Papua Public Relations)

JAKARTA - The economic condition is tight, life is getting squeezed. There are people who are trying to make profits amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Police hand arrest (OTT) operations in Papua prove irregularities in the price inflation rapid test detects the new corona virus.

The hand-catch operation (OTT) of the Saber Pungli Papua Task Force led by the Chief Executive of Kombes Alfred Papare showed that there were irregularities of officers for the Corona virus rapid test.

This catch operation was carried out at the Jayawijaya Regional Representative Office against officers serving passengers destined for Jayawijaya. Passengers are required to do a rapid test at a cost of IDR 250 thousand.

The team secured 4 (four) officers along with evidence to the Regional Police Headquarters for clarification and examination, while the other officers continued to carry out service activities for the passenger community, ”said Papua Police Chief Inspector General Paulus Waterpauw in a written statement to VOI, Thursday, October 22 evening.

The four officers arrested in the OTT were HP (46), Y (35), ERS (29) women and RL (33). Evidence was Rp.15.9 million, registrant registration books, receipts, the results of the October 21 rapid test and the attendant's attendance book.

Press conference for OTT officers who mark-up prices for rapid tests in Papua (PR of Polda Papua)

Papua Police Chief Inspector General Paulus said that the policy to pay a rapid test of Rp. 250 thousand violated the Indonesian Ministry of Health circular letter number 2875 of 2020 concerning the maximum rapid test tariff limit.

The cost for the rapid test examination is set at a maximum of IDR 150 thousand. "And it applies to people who carry out antibody rapid tests on their own request, not forced. However, the practice carried out by officers is to collect a tariff of Rp. 250 thousand per person, "said Inspector General Paulus.

Public complaints, especially passengers destined for Jayawijaya Regency, are also the basis for the Task Force's consideration to conduct OTT. Because the rapid test at Sentani Airport is set at Rp130 thousand.

In this case, the investigators charged the suspects with Article 12 E of the Law on the Eradication of Non-Criminal Law and Corruption. The minimum threat of imprisonment is 4 years in prison.