Does anyone have an opinion on how helpful the police in Indonesia are in the event of road accidents and such? I am pondering options other than Cambodia where I am now. I was hit by a car as I was trying to walk across the road in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. I politely suggested I wanted police assistance but the driver got in her car and drove off leaving me at the side of the road, bruised, concussed and with blood dripping down my face from a head wound. I went to a police station nearby and an attendant took me back purportedly to confirm the location of the incident. When I got off the back of his motorcycle he peculiarly abruptly broke off talking with me and drove off leaving me there. Are things similar in Indonesia? Are the police in Indonesia generally corrupt, negligent or honest in their dealings with foreigners?
I find the police in Indonesia to be friendly but I wouldn't go to them for assistance unless it is absolutely necessary (ie for an insurance claim).
If you are a pedestrian n got hit by a car or bike, then they'll help you. Maybe take you to a hospital. But if you're driving a car and got involved in an accident (even if the accident wasn't your fault), they would give you a hard time.
If you get pulled over, speak English real quickly... and most of the time they'll let you go.
I'd say mostly they're corrupt, given the chance.
Sorry to hear what happened to you, but just be happy you survived. The police will not do anything unless injuries are severe. They saw you weren't dying so they're not going to waste time with your case. Unfortunately there are a lot of severe cases they deal with on a daily basis. In Cambodia the police do everything even like firefighting, rescue, etc, that in more developed countries are outsourced to separate organizations. In addition they spend a lot of their resources doing corrupt side jobs (like extorting money from foreigners who commit crimes) that get them hard cash, so they have no time to deal with "minor" issues like yours.
You're looking at two issues here, one is incompetence, and that is basically universal among third world police all over the world. And the second is moral corruption, which is not universal, it depends on the location, down to the police department level.
Cambodian police are undoubtedly among the most morally corrupt police forces in the world, and this because they are part of the Hun Sen empire, which he built up systematically on moral corruption and greed since 1984. I seriously doubt Indonesian police forces, who are not part of that empire would have a shot at being as morally corrupt as Cambodian police. So I would think in the vast majority of Indonesia police would not treat you like they did in Cambodia.
I am sorry to hear that...
Just be happy you are survive.
I am Indonesian, originally Indonesian.
You can ask me everything about Indonesia.
With private message.
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