155 arrested and Rp 34.4m seized in anti-gambling raid

JAKARTA (JP): The city military arrested 155 gamblers and confiscated Rp 34.4 million (US$14.3 million) in cash yesterday in a pre-dawn raid on an illicit gambling den in Mangga Besar, Central Jakarta.

City Military Spokesman Lt. Col. Didi Supandi said yesterday that in the raid on the gambling den on Jl. Mangga Besar IV number 21, gambling paraphernalia, including a roulette table, a baccarat table, cards and hundreds of coins.

The raid, which involved 110 personnel, was carried out by the city's Agency for the Coordination of Support for the Development of National Stability following a tipoff from local residents, Didi said.

All the suspects, including 31 women and one military corporal, are being held at the City Military Police detention center, he said.

"We will continue such raids on illegal gambling dens in the city until the gamblers have had it and stop playing the games," Didi said.

However, a criminologist said earlier that crackdowns on illicit gambling dens would not deter gamblers.

Criminologist Adrianus Meliala said raids on gambling dens were usually the result of a temporary agreement to test the readiness of law enforcers.

"A raid may also be conducted to please newly-installed officials, like new police or military chiefs," Adrianus said.

He said the many dimensions of gambling problems made it difficult to eradicate gambling.

"Many people love gambling, and some government officials need gambling, and some law enforcers need gambling as their source of income. Once we are aware of this, we will not be surprised to see gamblers released soon after their arrest," he said.

The city's military carried out three raids on illegal gambling dens, all downtown, in January.

Three hundred and thirty-one people were arrested on Jan. 4 at Mangga Besar where Rp 45 million cash was confiscated from alleged gamblers.

On Jan. 5, 19 gamblers were arrested and Rp 12 million in cash and Rp 20 million in cheques seized from three gambling dens in West and Central Jakarta.

Later on Jan. 25, the city military arrested 382 people and annexed Rp 23 million from the alleged gamblers.

Of all the people caught during the raids, officials say only 15 suspects were eligible to be sent to court.

Last year, police arrested 1,203 people and confiscated Rp 168.29 million in cash during raids on illicit gambling dens. (04)