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