Nightspots get green light to reopen<\/p>\n
JAKARTA: The city administration said on Thursday that it had
\ngranted permission for two West Jakarta nightspots, forced to
\nshut down for selling ecstasy, to reopen after the management
\npromised in writing to ban drugs from being sold on the premises.<\/p>\n
Governor Sutiyoso said the management of the singing hall at
\nthe New Barcelona and the karaoke lounge at Hotel Travel had
\nsubmitted written statements, saying that they would not provide
\npatrons with drugs on the premises.<\/p>\n
\"If they commit (the crime) again, I will immediately revoke
\ntheir (business) license,\" he said.<\/p>\n
His decision to allow the two nightspots to resume operation
\nwas in contradiction to his reaction on Monday when reporters
\nsaid both establishments had reopened just several days after
\nthey were closed by authorities. At that time, Sutiyoso blasted
\nthe management of the two nightspots, vowing to take stern action
\nagainst them.<\/p>\n
The governor led a raid in the early morning of May 13 on the
\nNew Barcelona in the Lokasari area, which resulted in the seizure
\nof 16 ecstasy pills and the arrest of three suspects: the
\nmanager, a security guard and a waitress.<\/p>\n
On May 16 before dawn, Sutiyoso led a second raid on the
\nsinging hall at Hotel Travel on Jl. Mangga Besar, which resulted
\nin the seizure of 13 ecstasy pills. Two suspects were arrested:
\nthe hall's deputy manager and the public relations manager.<\/p>\n
City councillors lauded the governor's action, but questioned
\nwhy only small nightspots were targeted. They considered the
\nraids to be an image booster for him ahead of the next
\ngubernatorial race.<\/p>\n
In other matters, Sutiyoso said he would dismiss a civil
\nservant, Wahyudi, at the West Jakarta mayoralty's tourism agency
\nif he was found guilty of trafficking marijuana.<\/p>\n
Police reportedly raided the man's house in the Matraman area
\nof East Jakarta on Tuesday night, seizing four kilograms of
\nmarijuana.<\/p>\n
Wahyudi escaped, but his wife, Titin, was arrested by
\npolice.--JP<\/p>",
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