10 prostitutes, five beggars arrested

JAKARTA: Ten prostitutes and five beggars were arrested during a series of raids by public order officers on the first night of the Ramadhan fasting month on Wednesday and early on Thursday.

The prostitutes were arrested during raids on a number of different locations: Jl. Hayam Wuruk (3), Jl. MH. Thamrin (1), Jl. Kebon Sirih (1), Jl. Gatot Subroto (1), Taman Suropati Park (2), Jl. Melawai (1) and Kuningan (1). The beggars were nabbed in Harmoni, Menteng, Sabang, Kebon Sirih and Grogol, BeritaJakarta.com reported.

The prostitutes and beggars were taken to a rehabilitation center in Kedoya, West Jakarta, and later will be sent back to their hometowns. The sex workers and beggars came from different places, such as Indramayu, Lampung, Pemalang and Bekasi.

The public order officers carried out the raids from 11 p.m. on Wednesday to 2:15 a.m. on Thursday.

The city has ordered entertainment centers to close down or reduce their opening hours during Ramadhan. All entertainment centers, except those located in star-rated hotels, are required to close on the first day of the fasting month, the night of the revelation of Koran and for the two-day Idul Fitri holiday. --JP