Police cut corners for ministers in trouble

JAKARTA. Despite glaring violations, the National Police are delaying their investigation of a crash involving Dahlan Iskan until the state-owned enterprises minister says he is ready to talk to officers.

Similar kid gloves have also been extended to the son of Coordinating Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa, who, in contrast to usual police practice, was not arrested after he was involved in a fatal traffic accident and was allowed to seek treatment at a private hospital, instead of a police hospital.

In the most recent incidence of special ministerial treatment, Dahlan was reportedly at the wheel of a Rp 1.5 billion (US$155,440) locally-assembled prototype Tucuxi electric car when its brakes failed and the vehicle plowed into a utility pole and a Kijang car.

The National Police have not cited Dahlan for violating traffic laws nor summoned him for questioning on the accident, even though the “DI 19” license plate attached to the car was not officially issued.

A National Police spokesperson, Sr. Comr. Agus Rianto, said on Monday that a counterfeit license plate was not necessarily illegal.

“We never issued that [plate] — if it can be considered a ‘license plate’. We are still collecting information from relevant parties, including those who made and installed the plate. Whether it is authentic or not, you can find the answer yourselves,” he said during a press conference at the National Police headquarters in South Jakarta on Monday.

In a new development, it appears that Dahlan’s car had not been tested or certified as roadworthy by the Transportation Ministry.

Law No. 22/2009 on Traffic and Land Transportation stipulates that every vehicle must pass design and mechanical tests conducted by the Transportation Ministry before it can be registered with the National Police. Violators can be sentenced to two months in prison.

Agus said that an unregistered concept car like the Tucuxi could only be driven on the road after receiving a vehicle trial license and a trial license plate from the local police.

The car’s assembler, the Kupu Kupu Malam auto shop in Yogyakarta, never filed a request for the document.

Meanwhile, Agus offered a defense for not taking Dahlan in for a drug test or questioning after the accident, as is usual police procedure.

“Shortly after the incident, the state-owned enterprises minister had to perform state duties. Hopefully, the East Java Police can question him as soon as possible,” Agus said.

As of Monday, the East Java Police and the Magetan Police had summoned nine witnesses in the incident, including members of Dahlan’s staff, Kupu Kupu Malam’s staff and the driver and passengers of the Kijang in the crash.

Agus said that Dahlan could settle the case amicably outside the court. “Relevant parties could reach an out-of-court settlement,” Agus said.

Also on Monday, police began questioning Hatta’s son Rasyid Amrullah Rajasa about his role in a crash on Jan. 1 that killed two people.

Hatta was on hand from state duties to escort Rasyid to speak to investigators at the Jakarta Police’s Traffic Directorate in Pancoran, South Jakarta.

The minister claimed that Rasyid could speak with investigators only after his son’s physician approved.

“I hereby surrender my son to comply with the nation’s laws, although he is still in an unstable condition,” Hatta said.

Rasyid was driving a BMW X5 at 120 kilometers per hour when he rear-ended a Daihatsu Luxio on the Jagorawi toll road early in the morning of New Year’s Day.

During the questioning on Monday, Rasyid passed out and had to be rushed to the Police Hospital in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta, for treatment. (The Jakarta Post)