• I Paid A Bribe
• 13 years ago
• 350 views

FIRST CONFRONTATION WITH CORRUPTION & STAY HELPLESS

• Customs, Excise and Service Tax
• Customs Check and Clearance
• Paid INR 5,600

CUSTOMS OFFICIAL COMPELLED ME TO PAY
It was an outrageous incident at the customs office, New Delhi International Airport, which I want to bring to limelight. Although I am sure that there is a big lobby of corrupted officials who do not do their duties well with sincerity after taking an oath, and that this will not be a first incident.
I checked in early at the KLM Counter to take a flight (KL 872) from DEL to AMS (Amsterdam) at 00.50 hrs on 7th July, 2012. The Check in staff asked few questions related to Visa, as my final destination was San Jose, Costa Rica. As a rule for an Indian, who wants to enter Costa Rica for a business trip, he must possess a short stay Visa of Costa Rica, or he is allowed to be given an On-Arrival Visa of not more than 30 days, if he is having a valid UK/US/Canada Visa. I was having a UK Visa, with an Invitation Letter of my Business Associate in Costa Rica, with his IC, etc and other relevant documents. It took a bit more time than usual for check in and from that very moment, my suspicion raised, as to why the male staff called his another male staff, took him aside, murmured something and came back and without asking further questions, they gave me a boarding pass. After collecting the boarding pass, a lady (KLM staff) approached me and told me to follow her as customs official have some queries. Being a law abiding citizen, it is my duty to assist the Govt officials by all means, and I followed the KLM staff. The Immigration didn’t took much time, and gave me an exit chop on my passport, and I proceeded to the Customs official. There were two Customs officials sitting inside the room, one Sardarji, and one tall spectacled in his late 50s or early 60s, who looked drunk. They asked me to confront them and sit in the Chair opposite to them. Sardarji started his interrogation softly, and I was having prompt answers and supportive documents to show. The old guy kept interrupting and asked me to keep quiet, and told me shoutingly, to stop showing FAKE DOCUMENTS. He said that all the documents are fake, and asked me a straight question, HOW MUCH MONEY I WAS CARRYING? I showed him my 500 US $ Cash, which was converted from an authorized money changer with a receipt. He simply asked me commandingly to keep all the money at the desk and go away. I knew that my Patience was being tested, and I should assist them. I kept the money on the desk and sat back on the chair. The old man shouted and told me to get out now. He sounded drunk as I couldn’t understand a single word clearly. Than sardarji interrupted coolly and told me that, “you must pay a penalty”. I softly put an argument, WHY Sir? Please give me a valid reason, which I have a right to know, and until that I am not leaving. I will leave only with my money. The Sardarji brought the old man inside and after a while both came back, and than sardarji took 200 $ out of that 500$, and asked me to leave silently without creating a noise, or otherwise, the Old man will take Action. I was shocked and baffled, thinking that, if the Custom officials misuse his power, he can put me in a fake case in no time, and I will lose my job too. I am from a middle class sound family, but a post graduate and travelled globally, working at a senior level with an established Singapore based Company. This Venture was quite new and I cannot keep my job at stake to fight against this Corruption. While I was quiet and had storm of mixed apprehension running in my mind, the Sardar again took another 100 $ and asked me, aab thik hai? I said, NO, I cannot give a valid explanation to my Company, as to where the money was spent. In total, he returned 400 $ back, and kept 100$ on table, and took me outside having his shoulders on my shoulders, and said, “If I am hold as a suspect, it is better to pay off and leave”. He said, I know that you are genuine guy, that’s why suggest you to leave silently, and accompanied till the gate. I told him, that “This is not right and unacceptable, first time I have been interrogated like this, and I will never forget” saying this, I left and boarded the flight.
I suspect a lobby between the KLM Check in staff and the officials, as the check staff could not put his eyes on my eyes at the boarding gate. I would urge the Authorities to do their jobs piously, and seek further Investigation into this matter. Hope for an Answer from Authorities. I am sending the details to the official sites too. I am Ashamed, ********** **********.