West Java's 'Begal Arrest Competition' Sparks Controversy, Former Law Minister Warns of Vigilantism Risk

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Legal, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections (Menko Kumham Imipas), Yusril Ihza Mahendra, has voiced concerns regarding the "begal arrest competition" discussed by the Governor of West Java, Dedi Mulyadi. Yusril urged the National Police, particularly the West Java Police, to tighten and increase security patrols in areas prone to robbery incidents that cause fear among the community. He stated that strengthening patrols is crucial to provide a sense of security while fulfilling the National Police's primary functions of maintaining order, protecting the public, and enforcing the law. Furthermore, Yusril emphasized the importance of educating the public on robbery prevention and proper reporting procedures for criminal offenses. He reminded citizens that while maintaining security is a shared responsibility, law enforcement must remain within the legal corridor and avoid triggering vigilante actions. He underscored that the state is obligated to protect the safety of life and property for all citizens. Conversely, alleged perpetrators of crimes still possess legal rights guaranteed by the constitution. Yusril added that perpetrators must be arrested alive, tried fairly, and sentenced by the court, warning that mass beatings leading to death constitute human rights violations that must be prevented. Responding to the West Java Governor's idea of offering cash incentives to residents who successfully apprehend muggers, Yusril assessed that its implementation is not as simple as imagined. This is because an individual's legal status can only be determined through a judicial process that takes time until it has legal force (inkracht). He explained that residents might be disappointed if the promised reward is not immediately given, as they would have to wait for court decisions, even up to the Supreme Court. Therefore, he reiterated that the entire law enforcement process should be completely handed over to the authorities. Governor Dedi Mulyadi explained that the policy was designed as a psychological strategy to reduce crime rates and suppress the potential for vigilantism, not as an invitation to hunt down perpetrators wildly. Through this incentive-based approach, the West Java Provincial Government hopes to trigger public awareness and reactivate the fading tradition of night patrols, known as 'Pos Siskamling'.