20 soldiers arrested in military raids
20 soldiers arrested in military raids
JAKARTA (JP): At least twenty soldiers were arrested during
military raids on red-light districts over the weekend.
Jakarta Military Garrison Commander Brig. Gen. Yudomo SHD said
Saturday that two hand guns were seized from two soldiers because
they could not show a letter of permission to take the weapons to
the night spots.
"Military personnel are allowed to visit night spots only on
undercover assignments. And even if they are on duty, they must
have official letters for the guns they take with them," Yudomo
said.
The soldiers were nailed Friday night during simultaneous
raids on prostitution complexes in Kramat Tunggak, North Jakarta;
Bongkaran in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, and Boker, East
Jakarta.
Yudomo said that the arrests of the soldiers in such places
was aimed at upholding law and order within the military and
improving the military's public image.
Greater Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sutiyoso said
earlier that stern action would be taken against unscrupulous
soldiers who backed up illegal activities at entertainment
establishments.
Sutiyoso said that a soldier was always representing his
corps. "If soldiers violate the rule, I'll punish them because
they could give a bad name to other soldiers."
Yudomo said the arrested soldiers would be handed over to
their superiors to be questioned further and punished.
On separate raids over the weekend, city police detectives
arrested nearly 200 alleged gamblers and four women with more
than twenty Ecstasy pills in gambling dens and discotheques in
West Jakarta.
The alleged gamblers were nailed Friday night at sites on Jl.
Gajah Mada, Jl. Hayam Wuruk, Jl. Labu, and Jl. Mangga Besar Raya.
The four women were arrested Saturday and were held
responsible for the Ecstasy pills seized at the Sydney 2000
entertainment center in Glodok, also in West Jakarta.
Detectives also raided the Lido Oriental Executive discotheque
in Grogol and the Atlanta discotheque also in West Jakarta, but
no one was arrested at either place.
The alleged gamblers and four women were sent to the City
Police Headquarters for further investigation. (cst)