Police Have Not Found Pungli Elements In TPU Cikadut Bandung

A number of officers carrying coffins with COVID-19 protocol at TPU Cikadut, Bandung City, West Java/ Antara

JAKARTA - Police are still investigating allegations of illegal levies (extortion) at the COVID-19 Special Public Cemetery (TPU), Cikadut, Bandung, West Java.

Bandung Police Chief Kombes Ulung Sampurna Jaya said, from the investigation process, no elements of extortion were found. This is because there has been an agreement between the two parties to make the payment.

Previously, there was a lot of discussion regarding the alleged extortion of Rp. 2.8 million for the COVID-19 funeral at the Cikadut TPU.

Ulung said, to prevent this from happening again, the Cikadut TPU is now guarded by the police. Later, the ones on standby at the Cikadut TPU will be police and military officers. The reason, according to him, is now the number of bodies that need to be buried is increasing.

"Distaru (the Spatial Planning Service) has also placed officers at the Cikadut cemetery to ensure that extortion does not occur," said Ulung at the Bandung Police Station, Bandung City, West Java, as reported by Antara, Monday, July 12.

In addition, Ulung also ensured that the heirs who would bury their family members asked for the services of a bearer from the local community and who were not official Cikadut TPU officers.

"Therefore, during the past two weeks the number of people who died was very large, finally some of the community helped too," said Ulung.

Meanwhile, Head of Bandung City Distaru Bambang Suhari said later officers from Distaru would take turns monitoring every two hours.

He also ensured that the special funeral for the bodies with the COVID-19 protocol was free of charge. Because the officers at the Cikadut TPU have been financed by the Bandung City Government.

"Based on the mayor's decision, the costs are borne by the APBD, meaning that there should be no levies," said Bambang.