'Publicity may hamper' probe into match-fixing<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Police are remaining tight-lipped about their
\ninvestigation into an alleged soccer match-fixing and bribery
\nscam, since publicity may jeopardize the investigation process.<\/p>\n
City police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang, who was bombarded
\nwith questions about the latest developments, said yesterday that
\nhe had neither a statement nor information on the investigation
\nor the suspects.<\/p>\n
\"All I can say is that we'll keep moving on with our
\ninvestigation,\" he told the dozens of crime and sports reporters
\nwho flocked to his office yesterday.<\/p>\n
He indicated that further publication would encourage certain
\npeople to try to influence the witnesses in the case. He did not
\nelaborate.<\/p>\n
Aritonang confirmed that three new witnesses were questioned
\nyesterday although police were scheduled to start interrogating
\nthe suspects.<\/p>\n
Aritonang said over the weekend that the police had summoned
\none of the suspects for an interrogation session yesterday.<\/p>\n
\"He may just be a referee or member of a soccer-related
\norganization ... and he may or may not be one of our witnesses.\"<\/p>\n
The police have thus far questioned at least 21 witnesses in
\nthe case, mostly referees.<\/p>\n
Executives from the management of at least three local soccer
\nclubs, namely Persikab, Persib and Mataram Indocement, have also
\nbeen questioned as witnesses.<\/p>\n
Police have been investigating the scam for almost two weeks
\nfollowing an All-Indonesian Soccer Federation internal inquiry
\ninto alleged match-fixing and bribery during last season's
\nIndonesian League.<\/p>\n
The federation concluded that senior referee Djafar Umar was
\nalleged the main perpetrator in the scam, Eddi Elison, secretary
\nof the Referee Dispute Investigation Team, said.<\/p>\n
\"Djafar is the mastermind behind the scam,\" Eddi told
\nreporters Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\"He did not only receive unofficial fees from subordinate
\nreferees for every match but also ordered the referees to fix the
\nmatch, especially for the benefit of the home team.\"<\/p>\n
Eddi said a referee was officially paid Rp 75,000 to umpire a
\nmatch.<\/p>\n
Some referees, who had been questioned by the dispute team,
\nsaid they shared part of their refereeing wages and incentive
\nmoney -- which they received mostly from the winning team -- with
\nDjafar.<\/p>\n
\"They said they were forced to do that to avoid not being
\nappointed by Djafar to supervise another match,\" Eddi said.<\/p>\n
Djafar was responsible for appointing the referee to supervise
\na match, he said. (cst)<\/p>",
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