Two PDI-P councillors arrested for gambling<\/p>\n
Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung<\/p>\n
Two members of the West Java legislative council, Tato Hartarto
\nand Arman Koharman, were arrested for gambling at a house on Jl.
\nBanda in Bandung, police said on Friday.<\/p>\n
Bandung Police chief Sr. Comr. Hendra Sukmana confirmed the
\ntwo councillors had been arrested at about 10 p.m. on Thursday.<\/p>\n
He said police were questioning the two suspects, both members
\nof the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), which
\nalso listed the pair as legislative candidates for the upcoming
\nelections.<\/p>\n
The two were arrested along with another PDI-P legislative
\ncandidate, Dodi Rosadi, who owned the house on Jl. Banda, Hendra
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Responding to the arrests, the chairman of PDI-P's West Java
\nbranch, Rudi Harsa Tanaya, said his party was considering
\nremoving Tato, Arman and Dodi from its list of legislative
\ncandidates because of this matter.<\/p>\n
\"We are discussing the case with the West Java General
\nElections Commission (KPUD), exploring the possibility of
\nwithdrawing the nominations of these candidates,\" Rudi said in
\nBandung on Friday.<\/p>\n
KPUD chairman Setia Permana said political parties were
\nallowed to remove candidates from their lists, but must first
\nfile an official request with his office.<\/p>\n
\"It (the withdrawal of a legislative nomination) is possible
\nbecause of the credibility problem of the candidates concerned,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Rudi said his party was also seeking clarification from the
\nBandung Wetan Police on the chronology of the arrests of the
\nthree men.<\/p>\n
\"Police became suspicious of the house on Jl. Banda because
\nlots of cars were parked out front. They then entered the house
\nand found four people playing cards there, three of them our
\nmembers.<\/p>\n
\"It needs to be verified whether they were gambling. But the
\nfact is that they were taken to the local police station before
\nbeing allowed to go home,\" Rudi said.<\/p>\n
Officer Hendra denied there were any political motives behind
\nthe arrests of the three PDI-P legislative candidates.<\/p>\n
\"There is no link to their positions as councillors or
\npoliticians. This is the law and everybody is equal before the
\nlaw.\"<\/p>\n
Hendra said the police did not need to obtain permission from
\nthe Ministry of Home Affairs to question Arman and Tato even
\nthough the two are councillors.<\/p>\n
\"They two were caught committing a crime,\" he said.<\/p>\n
However, Hendra said his office would report the arrests of
\nthe two PDI-P councillors to Minister of Home Affairs Hari
\nSabarno.<\/p>\n
The suspects could be charged under Article 303 of the
\nCriminal Code on gambling, which carries a maximum penalty of 10
\nyears in prison or a Rp 25 million (US$2,976) fine.<\/p>\n
West Java legislative council speaker Eka Santoso said he had
\nnot been notified of the arrests of the two councillors.<\/p>\n
Eka was quoted by Antara as saying he was checking with the
\nlocal police to confirm the report.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/two-pdi-p-councillors-arrested-for-gambling-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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