Denpasar Police Emphasize Not Collecting Costs for Handling Accidents

Head of Traffic Police, AKP Muhammad Bhayangkara, presented the victim's friends, volunteer teams, video uploaders, and other related parties at the Denpasar Police/ANTARA/HO-Public Relations of the Denpasar Police

DENPASAR - The Denpasar City Police confirmed that they did not impose any fee in handling traffic accidents after a video circulated on social media saying that accident victims were asked for a certain amount of money allegedly related to the police.

Head of Traffic Police, Denpasar Police, AKP Muhammad Bhayangkara, confirmed that members of the National Police never collected any fees from victims or parties involved in traffic accidents.

"We emphasize that in every traffic accident handling, the members of the National Police never ask for or collect fees from the victim," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, June 30.

To clarify the incident in question, the Denpasar Police Traffic Unit, led by the Head of Traffic AKP Muhammad Bhayangkara accompanied by the Public Relations Officer of the Denpasar Police, Iptu I Gede Adi Saputra Jaya, has presented the victim's friends, volunteer teams, video uploaders, and other related parties.

The case began with a traffic accident that occurred on Jalan Cargo, Simpang Angsoka, North Denpasar, on Saturday (26/6) at around 23.20 WITA with the victim a woman named Prima.

The victim's friend, Kadek Angga, explained that the victim had received initial treatment from the Namru volunteer team.

However, after the treatment, the victim was asked to pay the medical treatment fee by the volunteer members.

The victim then thought that the fee was related to the police because previously it was said that police officers would come to carry out the crime scene.

However, after clarification, the cost in question was the cost of medical treatment from volunteers and not a levy from the police.

The police also asked all volunteers to provide complete information to the public and the media so as not to create misunderstandings that could harm various parties.

During the mediation, the video uploader explained that they passed through the scene at around 23.00 WITA and contacted the Denpasar City Police. They also said that the handling service from the BPBD was provided free of charge.

While waiting for the Laka Lantas Unit officers to arrive, the victim said that he was asked for money by Namru volunteers and the statement was then recorded and uploaded to social media.

Representative of the Bali Silent Volunteers/PMI, Kadek Edi Suwanjaya explained that volunteers work on humanitarian grounds and are not allowed to perform medical actions without medical personnel who have competence and licenses in accordance with regulations.

Meanwhile, the representative of the Namru volunteer team, Abu Ahmad, stated that his party had never asked for a fee from the victim, except for certain medical treatment services.

However, his party admitted that the legality of the operation of ambulances and the licensing of the institution that oversees Namru is still in the process of being resolved.

Responding to this, the Denpasar Police asked that for the time being the Namru volunteer team not carry out medical treatment or traffic accident handling until all permits and operational legality are declared complete.

Head of Public Relations of Denpasar Police, Iptu I Gede Adi Saputra Jaya, emphasized that the clarification was carried out so that the public could obtain correct information and not be influenced by incomplete information.

He also appealed to the public who experienced or witnessed traffic accidents to immediately contact the National Police emergency services through the 110 Call Center which can be accessed for free.