BANTUL - The Bantul Police, Yogyakarta Special Region, denied the news circulating on social media regarding empty ambulances without patients traveling around to create panic or scare residents amid the rising positive for COVID-19.
"With this case, we appeal to the entire community, especially the Bantul community, that the issues, video and video conversations on social media regarding ambulances traveling without patients are not true," said Bantul Police Chief AKBP Ihsan, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, July 14.
This statement follows up on the case of the destruction of an ambulance belonging to the DIY SAR while carrying patients on Tuesday, July 13 afternoon. The vandals were provoked by rumors on social media stating that most ambulances are currently empty, only going around scaring residents.
"So the motive was that the perpetrators were provoked to see social media or conversations that did give a negative opinion that the ambulance was indeed empty, because it was displeasing and frightening, eventually blocking, disturbing and damaging," he said.
According to AKBP Ihsan, the news of empty ambulances scaring residents is an issue and opinion by irresponsible individuals, because the fact is that currently positive cases of COVID-19 are increasing in Bantul Regency.
"This includes in other areas, so every ambulance that passes must carry a patient, even if it doesn't bring a patient it will definitely pick up the patient, and it takes time from the ambulance to pick up the victim or patient," he said.
Therefore, the perpetrators of vandalizing the ambulance who are now being detained by the Bantul Police will be subject to Article 406 of the Criminal Code which reads that anyone who intentionally destroys, damages or loses property that does not belong to him is threatened with a maximum imprisonment of two years and eight months.
"Later we will also suspect it with an article on epidemic prevention, so that it can provide a deterrent effect to those who try to hinder, try to disrupt humanitarian activities by volunteers and the apparatus themselves. So once again we will be firm," said the Bantul Police Chief.
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