Indonesian city to fine tourists who give to beggars

The Indonesian city of Medan has drawn up legislation to slap large fines on tourists and others who give money to street beggars.

The beggars themselves face up to six weeks in jail.

The provincial capital of North Sumatra is a big drawcard for both tourists and beggars.

But if the draft law is passed as expected, kind-hearted tourists who give a few rupiah to a young mother and baby begging on the overpass or a young girl braving the traffic to knock on the taxi window could find themselves fined the equivalent of £330 ($660).

Local authorities say they carried out a survey which showed the city's 11,000 beggars were taking home $7 each a day - three times more than half the Indonesian population is living on and more than the average daily wage in Medan.