Police get tough on gambling<\/p>\n
Evi Mariani, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Police have detained a total of 138 suspects engaged
\nin gambling activities since January in an apparent effort to
\nimprove the image of the force, following media reports saying
\nthat police have turned a blind eye to existing gambling dens in
\nthe capital.<\/p>\n
\"In our latest raids from May 21 to May 25, we detained 46
\npeople from around 250 nabbed in three gambling dens,\" the city
\npolice spokesman Sr. Comr. Prasetyo told reporters.<\/p>\n
Earlier in the operation, police detained 92 suspects in 15
\nraids on gambling dens across the capital.<\/p>\n
Police raided two gambling dens in Grenvil Complex in Kebon
\nJeruk, West Jakarta, and another at a shop-house on Jl. Cut
\nMutia, West Bekasi on Monday through Tuesday.<\/p>\n
From Grenvil, the police confiscated 96 poker machines locally
\nknown as Mickey Mouse and Rp 4.92 million (US$531) in cash while
\nfrom Jl. Cut Mutia they only sized Rp 3.2 million in cash.<\/p>\n
\"We also raided a den in Duta Merlin complex in Central
\nJakarta on May 21. From the den, we confiscated 134 poker
\nmachines and Rp 580,000 in cash,\" Prasetyo said.<\/p>\n
\"The reports show that raids on gambling dens are routine
\noperations for the police. We are intent on fighting against
\ngambling operations and will not tolerate any violators,\" he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
Prasetyo, however, denied that the intensive operations were
\nbecause of a circular issued by National Police chief Gen. Da'i
\nBachtiar in April, requesting all provincial police chiefs to
\ncurb gambling activities in their respective areas.<\/p>\n
\"The perception that the police have been conducting raids on
\ngambling dens because of the chief's order is not correct,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Despite their intensive operation, critics say that while they
\nraid some gambling dens, they still allow other establishments to
\noperate freely, as reported by several national newspapers on
\nMonday.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-get-tough-on-gambling-1447893297",
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