AKBP rank police suspected of making herb artisans, intervened Propam Polri

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – The Professional and Security Division of the National Police (Propam) investigated information on the presence of police officers at the National Police Headquarters who allegedly blackmailed artisans of medicinal herbs in the village of Gentasari, Kroya district, Cilacap regency, Central Java.

“Propam is conducting an investigation,” said the Chief of the Public Relations Division of the National Police, Inspector General Argo Yuwono. Kompas.com, Tuesday (10/6/2020).

These policemen are called AKBP and they serve in the National Police Headquarters.

Also read: Accused of breaking the rules, herb artisans squeezed by police officers up to Rp. 7 billion

According to one of the victims, the accumulated losses suffered by the victims amounted to more than 7 billion rupees.

Argo also ensured that the police would take action against the person if it was proven that they had committed a violation.

“If it exists and it is proven that it will be processed,” he said.

One of the victims, named Mulyono, was reported to have said that the alleged extortion began with the arrest of a herbalist on charges of breaking the law.

However, according to him, herb artisans who have been detained by police officers have never been prosecuted in court.

“Detained in the Criminal Investigation Unit, no one has (been prosecuted in court). They release us, they tell us to earn money,” said Mulyono, owner of a herbal medicine packaging services business in the village of Gentasari, Kroya District, Cilacap Regency, Central Java, Monday (10/5/2020).

Mulyono said the detained herbalists would be released and given a deadline to deliver an amount of money according to the specified nominal.

Also read: Police squeezed up to IDR 2.5 billion, Hundreds of herb artisans in Cilacap Demo, this is the story

According to him, many herbal medicine artisans in the local village are also victims of alleged extortion with various nominal values.

“There are many victims, not counting. Relatively per person, there are Rp. 300 million, Rp. 500 million, Rp. 1.7 billion and some Rp. 2.5 billion,” he said.

Hundreds of artisans and traditional herbal medicine workers also held a demonstration in the village countryside, demanding that the police be tried and fired.