Police say they'll now crack down on big fish<\/p>\n
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Jakarta police confiscated on Thursday evening gambling equipment
\nfrom 16 gambling dens across the city, almost two weeks after
\nthey vowed to eradicate the practice within three days.<\/p>\n
The machines, including those popularly known as the \"micky
\nmouse\" video arcade game, slot machines called \"jackpot\" and
\nroulette tables were seen stacked up at the city police
\nheadquarters parking lot.<\/p>\n
City police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani said that since
\nThursday evening, officers had confiscated some 3,000 gaming
\ndevices from large casinos across the city.<\/p>\n
\"Many people accuse us of not being serious in eradicating
\ngambling because we haven't touched big gambling dens. But by
\nconfiscating gambling machines in 16 big gambling dens in the
\ncapital, we've proved that we mean business,\" he said.<\/p>\n
A police source said some of the gambling machines were taken
\nfrom casinos owned by Arif Cocong, Fery Gunawan and Kwan Cau in
\nMangga Besar, West Jakarta, as well as gambling dens owned by
\nRobby Ketek in Ancol, North Jakarta. Others included some
\ngambling centers owned by Jonson in Duta Mas, West Jakarta and
\nthe Bonagabe gambling center owned by Aseng in Jatinegara, East
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
Other machines were taken from Kobacabana and Palem Garden in
\nWest Jakarta, owned by A. Tung and Toni Kasogi, respectively as
\nwell as from Kalijodo and Jl. Mas Mansyur in Central Jakarta,
\naccording to the police source.<\/p>\n
Articles 39, 40, 45 of the Criminal Law Procedures Code
\n(KUHAP) stipulate that police can confiscate equipment used for
\ncriminal conduct.<\/p>\n
National Police chief Gen. Sutanto gave two weeks ago a one-
\nweek deadline for provincial police chiefs to eradicate gambling
\nin their respective areas. He warned them that if they did not
\ncomply with his order they would be fired and face criminal
\ncharges.<\/p>\n
Firman quickly ordered his top officers, municipality and
\nsubdistrict chiefs to eradicate gambling in the capital within
\nthree days with the threat that if there was a single report of
\ngambling in any area, the respective area chief would be relieved
\nof their duties.<\/p>\n
Immediately after Firman's order police began cracking down on
\nsome gambling in Jakarta. They announced that they had arrested
\nover 500 suspects, including players, bookies and managers.<\/p>\n
However, many people complained that none of the large casinos
\nhad been raided and no big-time gamblers had been arrested.<\/p>\n
Firman said on Friday that police did not arrest any gambling
\nowners as they could only arrest people who were caught in the
\nact of gambling.<\/p>\n
\"We haven't arrested the owners, because according to the law,
\nwe must have hard evidence to be able to arrest people. He or she
\nmust be caught in the middle of the game at the gambling site
\nwith his or her gambling equipment,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Article 303 of the Criminal Code stipulates that it requires
\nplayers, evidence and the bet available in order to arrest
\ngambling operators.<\/p>\n
Firman promised that the police would arrest any owner who
\ndared to reopen their gambling sites again.<\/p>\n
\"We are now counting the real number of machines. After that,
\nwe will hand over all the machines to the court so that they can
\nbe destroyed,\" Firman said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-say-theyll-now-crack-down-on-big-fish-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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