Administration is halting gambling in Pluit: Official<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): An official dismissed on Friday allegations that
\nthe city administration did not take action against rampant
\ngambling in the Pluit area of North Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"We tore down one building and revoked the cooperation
\nagreement with a tenant for violating a building permit. We've
\nalso sealed off two other buildings,\" Thamrin Djamain, the
\ndirector of the city's jointly owned urban developer company, PT
\nPembangunan Pluit Jaya, announced at City Hall.<\/p>\n
\"Actually, their licenses only allow them to operate billiard
\ntables, locally known as bola ketangkasan, but they misused it by
\nhosting gambling activities,\" he said.<\/p>\n
PT Pembangunan Pluit Jaya manages some 2,600 hectares in a
\nconcession under its authority. But it only has some 30 hectares
\nof its own.<\/p>\n
Thamrin said the demolished building was the Pluit Plaza
\nbuilding, while the two sealed-off buildings were Lucky Star and
\nPuja Mami.<\/p>\n
\"We have warned the Lucky Star owner, Rudi Wijaya, and Puja
\nMami owner Iwan Sujono not to even try running a pool hall in
\nPluit,\" he said, while citing that he had been sending warning
\nletters since December.<\/p>\n
\"The game is legal but no one can guarantee they won't turn it
\ninto gambling,\" Thamrin added, while providing the grounds for
\nissuing the warnings.<\/p>\n
He also said Iwan tried to acquire licenses to run a pool hall
\ndespite the warnings.<\/p>\n
\"Iwan has preliminary licenses from the City Public Order
\nOffice and the city police, but he has yet to acquire a license
\nfrom the City Tourism Agency. It's clear he's a defiant person,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
\"I have sent a letter to the agency asking it not to issue a
\nlicense,\" he added, while insisting that he would not cooperate
\nwith any investor who runs the game.<\/p>\n
When asked why he did not revoke the licenses immediately or
\nseal-off the premises, Thamrin said he had to follow procedures.<\/p>\n
\"I have to respect the agreement, and there are also business
\nethics that I have to comply to,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Only after sending out warnings can I take stern measures.
\nBut I have to coordinate with other agencies to do that,\" he
\nadded, while referring to the city police, local administrations
\nand the City Public Order Office.<\/p>\n
City councillors have repeatedly questioned Governor Sutiyoso
\nover the gambling issue in Pluit, which has been technically
\nmanaged by the city administration through the company.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso, in return, has repeatedly said the building where
\ngambling occurred was demolished, while regretting the
\ncouncillors who were not following the developments.<\/p>\n
\"Why do the councillors keep asking about that gambling den in
\nPluit? I ordered the officials to close it down. They even tore
\nit down. What more do they want?\" he asked.<\/p>\n
\"The councillors should inspect the place for themselves,\" the
\ngovernor added. (nvn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/administration-is-halting-gambling-in-pluit-official-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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