Affirms Its Members Are Not Bajaj Extortion At JIExpo, DKI Transportation Agency Accuses Of Being Carried Out By Mass Organizations

The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government Transportation Agency checked Bajaj at door II Jakarta International Expo (JIExpo). (doc Dishub)

Head of the DKI Jakarta Transportation Agency, Syafrin Liputo, said that his party had checked the location of the extortion that was reported by the Bajaj driver at door II Jakarta International Expo (JIExpo).

Bajaj drivers complained, they were asked to pay a joint fee of up to Rp. 200 thousand, in addition to paying Rp. 5,000 each driver carrying a passenger.

After checking, Syafrin emphasized that there were no Dishub officers who became extortionists. Apparently. they are mass organizations wearing Dishub uniforms.

"We have checked the field and checked the Bajaj drivers at the location, information was obtained that there were no officers in the Transportation Agency uniform who made levies on the location but were carried out by several mass organizations," Syafrin told reporters, Friday, June 16.

As a follow-up to this extortion, Syafrin said that his party had placed guard officers to monitor the location.

"To anticipate that certain elements carry out illegal levies, we have carried out surveillance/guards at the location by Dishub officers," said Syafrin.

Bajaj drivers complained about illegal levies (extortion) from community organizations (ormas) to officers in the Transportation Service (Dishub) uniform at one of the entrance areas of the Jakarta Fair Kemayoran, Central Jakarta (Jakpus).

One of the Bajaj drivers with the initials AR admitted that on the opening night of the Jakarta Fair, all Bajaj who raised passengers would be charged Rp5,000.

"Every time we pull with passengers, we pay Rp. 5,000 to the mass organization. That's different again from the one from the Transportation Agency, once we ask for Rp. 200 thousand," said AR, Thursday, June 15, confiscated by Antara.

AR explained that apart from mass organizations, he and other bajaj drivers were also charged Rp. 200 thousand which was paid jointly or Rp. 3,000 per bajaj to one of the officers in the Dishub uniform. The levy was asked only once on the opening night of the Jakarta Fair, Wednesday, June 14 evening.

At least 30 bajaj units are parked at the entrance area of the largest exhibition in Southeast Asia, or precisely at door II Gambir Expo, Jalan Benjamin Suaeb, Central Jakarta.

AR admitted that he was forced to pay the levy to one of the mass organizations because they threatened to divert the Bajaj parking lane to illegal motorcycle parking.

"If 'not digitized (paying extortion), (let's) we make motorbike parking. Motorcycle parking, (direct) one motorbike of Rp. 10 thousand, if replaced by bajaj, you can accommodate five motorbikes. Last year, IDR 2,000 was withdrawn, now it's up Rp. 5,000. We want to fight them too, they are 'diayomi' with the officers," said AR.