I know I wouldn't be corruption incident free during my time here but lately I seem to be experiencing it a lot. It was about 2 weeks ago that a friend and I were driving in the evening to meet up some friends for dinner. On our way there we were beckoned by the foot traffic police to pull over despite not speeding, etc.
My friend kindly pulled over, whereas people typically speed away since the police are on foot and are not prepared to chase the cars down. They took a look at his license and registration, all were in tact. Then they flashed their light on the left hand side of the windshield where the insurance stickers are displayed. Shoot! He had been out of the country for a while and forgot to put his renewal sticker on. Together we started searching the the car for the sticker "I swear I put it in the car, its got to be here somewhere" said my friend as we hastily search around. At this time the police knew they had their bait. They peered through the passenger side, where I was sitting, and started lecturing us on how we are breaking the law. Then they asked my friend to step out of the car to talk to them. My friend glared back with his kind face and said "Absolutely not, we can talk right here" and stayed put in his seat knowing if he stepped outside they were going to ask for a bribe. I nervously tried to read the two police officers that were in our faces while holding on to their AK-47s tightly, and thought about what we can do to convince them to let us go without paying them a bribe. At this point, we had no luck in finding the sticker after searching everywhere in the car.
They went on and on about how we are committing an illegal act and kept telling us "We are just doing our job". My friend was trying to explain to them that he has the sticker, the insurance is paid for but he simply does not have it with him. He asked the officers to give him a ticket, and he will pay his fine. The officers refused, they said we have to go to the police station or they can tow our car right there or "We will arrest you". I started to quietly panic, as I knew if we went to the station it would be a long night and perhaps a series of excuses to get a bribe, and arresting my friend...crap! They asked my friend to step out of the car again, and he stood firm. He got on the phone with some of his local friends meanwhile I was trying to think of things to say to the officers. Then out of nowhere I blurted out "I'm sick and I need medication now, I cannot wait in the station, you must give us a ticket now and let us go home otherwise we go to the station and you will have to call an ambulance for me, do you want to call an ambulance and see me sick?" The officers looked confused. I couldn't think of what I could be ill of, already I felt guilty of lying and fabricating a story but just glazing into the eyes of these officers they reeked of corruption but does it make it ok to lie?
They took a long look at me. At this point I started to shake a bit because of my guilt of lying and just the whole incident. I put out my hand and said, "See I'm shaking, I'm not well". Then started shaking my hand even more in front of them, thinking I can convince them. "Do you want to call an ambulance?" I fired back again. "No, ambulance not good" replied one of the officers in a more quiet tone this time.
After a few minutes, the officer came back with my friend's license. They gave it back to us and told us to get the sticker on immediately. No ticket, no going to the station and certainly no bribes. We were shocked!
Today I went to the immigration office. This place is notorious for bribery. I've always heard that you walk in clean and leave there reeking of corruption. I spent about an hour there trying to renew my visa and get some paperwork done. Luckily I was with the lawyer that is representing me so the process was moving much smoother than someone doing it on their own. Despite having a "connection" I could see the same glare in some of the officials in the office as I did that night with the police. There is something about the people who do not do their job the legal and moral way. It's as if you can see right through them. I won't go in details about what happened until a later time....
I'm glad to know of all the bribery incidents I've encountered not once have I gave in nor have the people around me. We must continue to stand against this and show these culprits that the old way will no longer be the way.
By the way, as we drove off that night completely floored that they let us go, not knowing what the actual reason was we found the sticker. It happened to be on my side of the door. I didn't properly search that area. At least I like to assume that my hand shaking play let us off the hook!
::forehead slap::
My friend kindly pulled over, whereas people typically speed away since the police are on foot and are not prepared to chase the cars down. They took a look at his license and registration, all were in tact. Then they flashed their light on the left hand side of the windshield where the insurance stickers are displayed. Shoot! He had been out of the country for a while and forgot to put his renewal sticker on. Together we started searching the the car for the sticker "I swear I put it in the car, its got to be here somewhere" said my friend as we hastily search around. At this time the police knew they had their bait. They peered through the passenger side, where I was sitting, and started lecturing us on how we are breaking the law. Then they asked my friend to step out of the car to talk to them. My friend glared back with his kind face and said "Absolutely not, we can talk right here" and stayed put in his seat knowing if he stepped outside they were going to ask for a bribe. I nervously tried to read the two police officers that were in our faces while holding on to their AK-47s tightly, and thought about what we can do to convince them to let us go without paying them a bribe. At this point, we had no luck in finding the sticker after searching everywhere in the car.
They went on and on about how we are committing an illegal act and kept telling us "We are just doing our job". My friend was trying to explain to them that he has the sticker, the insurance is paid for but he simply does not have it with him. He asked the officers to give him a ticket, and he will pay his fine. The officers refused, they said we have to go to the police station or they can tow our car right there or "We will arrest you". I started to quietly panic, as I knew if we went to the station it would be a long night and perhaps a series of excuses to get a bribe, and arresting my friend...crap! They asked my friend to step out of the car again, and he stood firm. He got on the phone with some of his local friends meanwhile I was trying to think of things to say to the officers. Then out of nowhere I blurted out "I'm sick and I need medication now, I cannot wait in the station, you must give us a ticket now and let us go home otherwise we go to the station and you will have to call an ambulance for me, do you want to call an ambulance and see me sick?" The officers looked confused. I couldn't think of what I could be ill of, already I felt guilty of lying and fabricating a story but just glazing into the eyes of these officers they reeked of corruption but does it make it ok to lie?
They took a long look at me. At this point I started to shake a bit because of my guilt of lying and just the whole incident. I put out my hand and said, "See I'm shaking, I'm not well". Then started shaking my hand even more in front of them, thinking I can convince them. "Do you want to call an ambulance?" I fired back again. "No, ambulance not good" replied one of the officers in a more quiet tone this time.
After a few minutes, the officer came back with my friend's license. They gave it back to us and told us to get the sticker on immediately. No ticket, no going to the station and certainly no bribes. We were shocked!
Today I went to the immigration office. This place is notorious for bribery. I've always heard that you walk in clean and leave there reeking of corruption. I spent about an hour there trying to renew my visa and get some paperwork done. Luckily I was with the lawyer that is representing me so the process was moving much smoother than someone doing it on their own. Despite having a "connection" I could see the same glare in some of the officials in the office as I did that night with the police. There is something about the people who do not do their job the legal and moral way. It's as if you can see right through them. I won't go in details about what happened until a later time....
I'm glad to know of all the bribery incidents I've encountered not once have I gave in nor have the people around me. We must continue to stand against this and show these culprits that the old way will no longer be the way.
By the way, as we drove off that night completely floored that they let us go, not knowing what the actual reason was we found the sticker. It happened to be on my side of the door. I didn't properly search that area. At least I like to assume that my hand shaking play let us off the hook!
::forehead slap::
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| Corrupt cops are everywhere! Here is one in Tehran, Iran. He wanted a bribe after pulling my Uncle over. My Uncle refused to pay him a bribe and asked for the ticket. Even though the ticket can cost more than the bribe he believes it's the right thing to do. The officer was so angry that he didn't get a bribe that he tried to write my Uncle the equivalent of a $24 ticket, pretty hefty for the offence, instead he mistakenly wrote $4.00 since he was so consumed by his anger! ha! |
So glad you didn't get arrested!! <3 Stay safe!
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