Security officers growing fat on lottery<\/p>\n
Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The underground lottery is one of the largest illegal
\nclandestine businesses in Jakarta. The operators, backed up by
\ncorrupt police and military officer, are making billions of
\nrupiah in profit every month.<\/p>\n
Jaelani, not his real name, one of hundreds of lottery agents,
\nrevealed that in one night he could get at least Rp 10 million
\nnet from operating the Singapur and Malaysia lotteries, which
\noperate every Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Monday.<\/p>\n
Jaelani's business group, which he called BC, covers five
\ndistricts, comprising Pondok Aren, Bumi Serpong Damai, Ciputat,
\nand Pamulang - all located in Tangerang; and Pesanggrahan in
\nSouth Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The gross profit of the business in one night from all the
\ndistricts is about Rp 200 million. Jaelani, as an agent, receives
\n35 percent of the profit, which is Rp 70 million. The money is
\nthen distributed among his subordinates, and he is left with 15
\npercent of the amount as his stake.<\/p>\n
Every croupier in Greater Jakarta operates a different book of
\ncoupons. Each coupon has the stamp of the respective business
\ngroup, such as Kera Sakti (Mighty Monkey), AB, CB and many more.<\/p>\n
According to Jaelani, each district can consist of between 10
\nand 15 different stamps and each is operated by a certain
\ncroupier.<\/p>\n
Jaelani, who operates as an agent overseeing some 20
\nsubagents, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday that the operational
\nstructure of such businesses was made a long-way down, aimed at
\nprotecting the big croupier.<\/p>\n
The lowest operational structure is the pengecer (retailer),
\nfollowed by the retailer coordinator, subagent, pengepul or
\nagent, agent coordinator, and bandar utama or cukong, who are the
\nbiggest croupiers operating at the highest level.<\/p>\n
The high-level croupier is backed up by a consortium of
\ncapital owners, which also include high-ranking police and
\nmilitary personnel, usually with a minimum rank of brigadier
\ngeneral, according to Jaelani.<\/p>\n
\"When unfavorable police detain a retailer, then subagents or
\nagents are used to cover for their bosses,\" Jaelani said.<\/p>\n
The agent then confesses to be the 'big croupier'. Later, the
\nreal big croupier will deliver a large amount of cash to the
\nagent's staff in order to bribe the police.<\/p>\n
\"Usually a retailer can be released from the district police
\nstation for between Rp 2 million or Rp 3 million, but of course
\nwith the help of a patron police officer,\" he said.<\/p>\n
When caught by police from Jakarta Police Headquarters, the
\nbribe could be far higher.<\/p>\n
Bribes protect croupiers. In this business \"money talks\".
\nEvery month, the big croupier pays protection money to the police
\nstation in every level.<\/p>\n
\"For subprecinct police in Ciputat and the Pondok area, my
\nboss only pays Rp 300,000, while for the district police in
\nTangerang and South Jakarta, he pays Rp 5 million, and for the
\ncity police Rp 20 million. The protection money does not include
\nthe daily bribes for police personnel,\" said Jaelani, who every
\nmonth receives some 10 \"guest\" police officers in his house,
\nasking for \"coordination\" money.<\/p>\n
For an individual police officer, Jaelani usually gives them
\nbetween Rp 10,000 and Rp 100,000 each, depending on their rank
\nand post. The police who ask for money come from various police
\nunits unrelated to the gambling business, such as the vehicle
\ncrime division of Jakarta Police Headquarters and the mobile
\nbrigade.<\/p>\n
If a big croupier fails to pay a tribute over two consecutive
\nmonths, then the police, usually from the district or Jakarta
\nPolice Headquarters, raid the agent, but not the big croupier, as
\na kind of shock therapy.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, if an agent is in debt for one month to his
\nsuperior, then the big croupier sends the police to force the
\nagent to pay the debt.<\/p>\n
The police are also used as a dummy by business players to
\neliminate their rivals.<\/p>\n
\"I usually tell a high-ranking police officer posted at
\nTangerang Police Headquarters, who happens to be a close friend
\nof mine, to raid my rival who is backed up by a different group
\nof police. It's fun.<\/p>\n
\"When you watch a lottery raid on television, don't count on
\nthe goodwill of the police, it's just a charade,\" said Jaelani
\nwith a big laugh.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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