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INCREASING incidents of extortion are an added challenge law enforcers are confronting. It’s an organised crime and a parallel taxation mechanism administered either by non-state actors or organised criminals.
Extortion provides funds to militant organisations. Whenever other funding sources dry up terrorists turn to extortion and kidnapping for ransom. Criminals are also indulging in the extortion racket. Resultantly, the growing menace of extortion erodes the public’s confidence in the police.
It is an erroneous perception that extortion is a by-product of the ongoing wave of militancy. The incorporation of extortion in Article 383 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) of 1860 indicates that the menace is not a modern-day problem. However, technology today has facilitated extortionists in accomplishing their objectives in an organised manner.
In an extortion bid, the first step is the identification of a potential target; information is often gathered through a confidant of the family. To achieve this objective, militant organisations also establish research wings.
Extortionists are taking full advantage of technology.
The second step is communication. The extortion demand is communicated through a handwritten letter or mobile phone call. In exceptional cases demands are also communicated via SMS or email.
If the target opts not to pay up then the extortionists go for low-level coercive methods, such as setting off an improvised explosive device in front of his residence or lobbing a hand grenade inside it.
Due to fear and mistrust of the police, complainants initially do not report such matters to the law enforcers. Victims are reluctant to share the facts regarding extortion demands. Such avoidance of contact with the police on part of the victim further complicates the situation. Initially, extortionists play on the fears of the target but afterwards they actually harm him. In such cases witnesses are usually from the same family and therefore afraid to share the facts.
Migration to other cities also does not resolve the issue, as the criminals’ agents follow the victims in other cities too.
Extortionists are taking full advantage of technology and loopholes in the business of illegal and unverified Afghan and Pakistani SIMs. Extortionists also take full advantage of administrative limitations faced by the KP police. For example, in the majority of cases when the location is traced, it happens to be beyond the police jurisdiction.
Mobile service providers are merely interested in profit; they are least concerned about the consequences of illegal SIMs. The existing gap between the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, police and mobile telephone companies needs to be bridged; it will help the police nab the extortionists.
In Pakistan, this menace has travelled from the south to the northwest. During 2013, Karachi police registered 545 cases and KP police 40 cases of extortion respectively. During the current year KP police registered 164 cases and arrested 156 accused. However, the conviction rate remained zero.
The nature of extortion in Karachi is different from that in Peshawar. The majority of cases in Peshawar have links with terrorist outfits concentrated in Afghanistan and Fata.
In 2013, owing to the increasing trend of extortion in Honduras, a National Anti-Extortion Force was raised. Within 10 months, the force arrested 370 extortionists and prevented the collection of $1.8 million in payments.
The creation of a new force motivated the victims to register complaints. All those arrested in nine months were convicted; 100pc conviction rate was a strong message from the criminal justice system.
Article 222 of the Honduran penal code instituted a sentence of 15 to 20 years and a fine of minimum $12,000. The Honduran model encouraged reporting and helped the authorities understand the gravity of the situation.
Likewise, El Salvador’s penal code establishes a 15-year prison term for extortionists. To nab them, the anti-extortion sub-directorate has allocated more officers and resources. This unit also increased public engagement and introduced a toll-free hotline.
Article 384 of the PPC incorporates maximum imprisonment of three years or a fine, or both. Keeping in view the reluctance of witnesses, the poor capacity of investigators and lack of technological support to the police, it is imperative to amend the PPC and enhance the punishment. Pakistan Rangers also introduced online registration of complaints against extortionists while the KP police has an anti-extortion unit.
Since it is also a trans-border crime, cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan is imperative. To nip the evil in the bud, cellular companies should revise their business protocols, particularly the roaming service extended to Afghan mobile companies.
Technological barriers confronted by the police facilitate criminals. To nab extortionists the police need instant access to call data, availability of GSM locators and capacity-building of investigators.
The writer is a police officer.
Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2014
