Raffi Ahmad’s RI 36 Car Incident: Patrol Officer’s Gesture Sparks Public Outrage
Jakarta – A recent incident involving a patrol officer escorting a car with the license plate RI 36, owned by Raffi Ahmad, has gone viral on social media. The Special Presidential Envoy for Young Generation and Arts Workers confirmed that the vehicle in question was his, though he was not present during the incident.
Raffi explained that the car,bearing the RI 36 plate,was en route to pick him up for a meeting when the altercation occurred. “It is indeed true that the car was the vehicle I was using, but at the time of the incident, I was not in the car as at that time the car with the RI 36 plate was in position to pick me up to go to the next meeting agenda,” Raffi stated in a written release on Saturday, January 11, 2025 [[3]].
The Viral Incident: What Happened?
According to Raffi’s account,the incident began when a black Alphard taxi stopped abruptly in front of the RI 36 car. A truck had halted in front of the taxi, forcing the taxi driver to swerve into the right lane, nearly colliding with another vehicle. This led to a heated argument between the taxi driver and the other motorist, with both parties exchanging words through their open windows.
The patrol officer escorting the RI 36 car intervened, gesturing at the taxi driver to move forward and clear the traffic. “the patrol officer who saw this, worried that it would cause traffic jams because the traffic was quiet busy, immediately reprimanded the taxi driver by saying ‘Yes, go ahead sir’ with the gesture seen in the video,” Raffi explained [[1]].
The officer’s gesture, perceived as arrogant, quickly drew criticism from netizens, sparking a debate about the conduct of patrol officers during official escorts.
Polda Metro Jaya Responds with Apology
In response to the backlash, the Traffic Directorate of Polda metro Jaya issued an apology. Kombes Latif Usman, the Traffic Director, confirmed that the patrol officer involved had been reprimanded. ”Currently, members have been summoned and clarified regarding the incident and given a warning to be more humane when carrying out escort activities,” Latif stated [[2]].
Latif emphasized that the incident would serve as a learning opportunity for future operations. “Ditlantas Polda Metro Jaya apologizes if the gestures made by members are deemed inappropriate/arrogant. This will be used as evaluation material for further active escort activities,” he added.
Key Points of the Incident
| Aspect | Details |
|————————–|—————————————————————————–|
| Vehicle Owner | Raffi Ahmad, Special Presidential Envoy for Young Generation and Arts Workers |
| License Plate | RI 36 |
| incident Location | Jakarta |
| patrol Officer’s Action | Gestured at taxi driver to clear traffic, perceived as arrogant |
| Polda Metro’s response | Issued apology, sanctioned officer with a warning |
Public Reaction and Lessons Learned
The incident has reignited discussions about the behaviour of patrol officers during official escorts. While their primary role is to ensure smooth traffic flow, the manner in which they interact with the public remains a sensitive issue.
Raffi Ahmad’s clarification and Polda metro Jaya’s swift response have helped mitigate some of the public outrage. However, the incident serves as a reminder that even in high-pressure situations, professionalism and respect must be maintained.
As the story continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether this incident will lead to broader changes in how patrol officers conduct themselves during official duties. For now,the focus remains on ensuring that such incidents do not recur.
(rfs/dhn)
