Jakarta police say Uber illegal service, arrest drivers

Jakarta police say Uber illegal service, arrest drivers
x
Highlights

Jakarta police arrested on Monday 30 drivers working for Uber Technologies Inc as the car-hailing service is not legal in the city, a police spokesman said on Monday.

Jakarta police arrested on Monday 30 drivers working for Uber Technologies Inc as the car-hailing service is not legal in the city, a police spokesman said on Monday.


Uber and its drivers do not meet the formal requirements to operate as a public transportation service, Jakarta police spokesman told on Monday.

In a statement, Uber said it would take the issue up with the city's governor.

Uber denies drivers arrested in Jakarta police crackdown

Uber Technologies Inc [UBER.UL] denied on Monday that authorities in Jakarta had arrested some of its drivers after police in the city said they were cracking down on the car-hailing service because it was operating illegally.

Police spokesman Mohammad Iqbal had earlier told that 30 Uber drivers had been arrested by a task force set up last week to catch traffic offenders. He said Uber drivers did not pay the correct taxes and the company did not have the license needed to operate as a form of public transport.

Uber spokesman Karun Arya, however, told Reuters in a email that none of its drivers had been arrested, but added that the company was in contact with Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama to address any issues related to its license.

"You have been given incorrect information by the Jakarta Police," Arya added.

On its website, the firm asked customers to sign a petition to help "save" it in Jakarta.

Uber launched in Jakarta last year and has some 6,000 drivers. Other car-hailing apps and online services such as GrabTaxi and motorbike app Go-Jek also operate in the city, where traffic congestion is notorious and public transport is lacking.

The crackdown on U.S.-based Uber in Jakarta is the latest in a series of troubles facing the company across the world. Taxi drivers have staged protests against the service for hurting their livelihoods while many city governments have banned it for breaching licensing laws.
Show Full Article
Print Article
Next Story
More Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENTS