I am a 70-year-old male who has visited Goa 14 times in the past 10 years from the UK. I suppose I’m classed as a `high income tourist’.
Often when socializing with locals the topic of police corruption is debated as I’m an ex-serving officer of a UK force.
Locals seem to have very little respect for or confidence in Goa Police in general which I find quite disturbing.
On my recent stay in Majorda I was given permission by my Goan friends to make use of their motorcar.
When approaching Margao on NH17 I was requested to stop by a traffic officer.
I duly stopped and he requested my driver’s licence which was at my friends’ house in Majorda for safe keeping.
The officer stated that the penalty for not having my licence was 2000 rupees.
I asked that I be given a ‘ticket’ or receipt for this amount but he said that would not be possible and then inspected the documents relating to the vehicle which he stated were all in order and he would reduce the penalty to 900 rupees.
I again requested a ‘ticket’/receipt but was denied. Obviously looking for an easy buck he further reduced my penalty to 500 rupees which I paid rather than to aggravate the matter.
The officer took the money and placed it into his uniform pocket.
I can only presume that once he returns to his station he gave it to a senior officer to place into the Police Widows and Orphans Fund.
Or am I just being too cynical like many locals?
