Gambling dens flourishing<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The City Council says gambling den operators are
\nbelittling the government's efforts to wipe out gambling.<\/p>\n
Vice speaker of the City Council, Ismunandar, said that
\nthe flourishing gambling dens in the Mangga Besar business
\ndistrict, Central Jakarta, are evidence of the operators'
\nattitude.<\/p>\n
\"Don't let the business district become a fertile place for
\ncrime, drug trafficking and prostitution,\" he was quoted by
\nAntara as saying yesterday.<\/p>\n
Ismunandar, of the Indonesian Democratic Party faction, made
\nhis remarks after an impromptu visit to some of the illegal
\ngambling dens. Many of the operations in Mangga Dua and Lokasari
\nreportedly have daily turnovers of hundreds of millions of
\nrupiah.<\/p>\n
The vice speaker spent more than three hours visiting the
\narea, known as the heart of the city's nightlife.<\/p>\n
\"If the existing laws are inadequate to prosecute the gamblers
\nand the operators a prompt review is needed,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said he supported the city military's plan to wage war on
\nall kinds of gambling. \"The military plan needs following up and
\ndeserves serious consideration.\"<\/p>\n
If the authorities believed that gambling was increasing,
\nintegrated steps involving the military, the police, the
\nprosecutor's office, the courts, the tourism office and the
\npublic order office should be taken soon, he said.<\/p>\n
Ismunandar said he was afraid that certain people would take
\nadvantage of the existence of the illicit gambling dens.
\n\"Officials could be tempted to take bribe money from the gambling
\nden operators if prompt steps are not taken by the government,\"
\nhe said. (sur)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gambling-dens-flourishing-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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