Mob says restaurant a front for prostitution<\/p>\n
TANGERANG (JP): A restaurant manager, his assistant and a
\ncashier suffered wounds after hundreds of people, including local
\nresidents, stormed the three-story building on Sunday evening, a
\npolice officer said on Monday.<\/p>\n
The officer, who asked not to be named, said the attackers,
\nmostly members of a Muslim group called Hisbullah Front, accused
\nthe owner of Citra Kuring restaurant, which uses its second and
\nthird stories for a dangdut music hall, of operating prostitution
\nin the building, which is located in the Sastra Plaza shopping
\ncenter in the Keroncong subdistrict of Jatiuwung, Tangerang.<\/p>\n
He identified those injured in the attack as manager Yogi, 30,
\nassistant manager Herman, 35, and cashier Eva, 19.<\/p>\n
\"Herman received a 50-centimeter slash wound believed to have
\nbeen caused by a sword, Yogi suffered several bruises and Eva
\nreceived a light wound,\" the officer said.<\/p>\n
None of the management or employees of the restaurant could be
\nreached on Monday for comment.<\/p>\n
Jatiuwung Police chief Lt. Budi Hermawan confirmed the
\nincident and regretted that people used violence to settle their
\ngrievances with the restaurant.<\/p>\n
\"Whatever their reasons, vandalizing places, such as
\nentertainment spots, has never been allowed. It's totally against
\nthe law,\" Budi said, vowing to investigate the case thoroughly.<\/p>\n
He did not say if his detectives had questioned or arrested
\nany of the attackers.<\/p>\n
Witnesses said some 200 members of the Hisbullah Front, led by
\nthe group's chairman, Cecep Bustomi, arrived at the restaurant at
\nabout 9 a.m. shouting about the alleged prostitution taking place
\nin the building.<\/p>\n
Dozens of locals joined the group, which brought banners and
\ndelivered speeches in front of the restaurant.<\/p>\n
\"This is not a restaurant but a place offering immoral things.
\nThe restaurant is just to camouflage the illegal business,\" one
\nof the protesters said.<\/p>\n
Several minutes later the mob forced its way into the
\nrestaurant as dozens of diners fled in panic.<\/p>\n
The mob then began to vandalize the building, breaking mirrors
\nand items on all three of the buildings floors.<\/p>\n
\"Manager Yogi and his assistant initially attempted to stop
\nthe people who were running amok,\" said the officer.<\/p>\n
However, he said the mob could not be reasoned with. \"They
\njust beat the two and wounded the female cashier.\"<\/p>\n
The mob left the building after the arrival of dozens of riot
\nofficers from the Tangerang Police.<\/p>\n
Such attacks on places of businesses have increased in
\nfrequency across the country since the May 1998 riots.<\/p>\n
Following the attack on Sunday, senior members of Hisbullah
\nFront told the Tangerang authorities to stop the sex business in
\nthe mayoralty, particularly those businesses operating under the
\ncamouflage of legal enterprises.<\/p>\n
\"If the Tangerang administration fails to keep the
\nentertainment spots that run immoral businesses in order, we'll
\nhave to act,\" group member Nasim said.<\/p>\n
He cited a number of entertainment places, particularly
\nkaraoke halls in the Pinangsia Lippo Karawaci shopping and office
\ncomplex, as examples.<\/p>\n
\"We are already tired of the Tangerang administration not
\npaying attention to the presence of these illicit businesses.<\/p>\n
\"Now many foreigners have invested their money in this immoral
\nbusiness. We don't want Tangerang, a religious town, to be
\ndamaged by the interests of certain people,\" Nasim said. (41\/bsr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mob-says-restaurant-a-front-for-prostitution-1447893297",
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