22 military officers netted at nightspots

JAKARTA (JP): Twenty-two military personal and hundreds of civilians were arrested during routine weekend police raids on night spots and red light districts in East and North Jakarta.

The chief of the On-the-alert Unit City Police Directorate, Col. Arthur Damanik, said yesterday that 13 of the 22 officers and 48 civilians were netted in a series of raids between Saturday night and Sunday morning.

Arthur said that five Armed Forces members, together with 33 civilians, were rounded up at Boker red light district in Ciracas and an illegal pub in the Ceger area, both in East Jakarta.

Eight other military personnel were apprehended at the Maya Dangdut and Matra discotheques. At least 15 civilians were also arrested at the two discotheques, he said.

Arthur said that the raids were conducted by 200 City Police Headquarters personnel assisted by officers from local police precincts and military units. The aim was to catch people in possession of drugs and weapons.

"The raids were focused on areas or places which were considered prone to crime, including discotheques," Arthur said.

Military personnel are not allowed to visit or be at night spots unless they are officially assigned to secure the venues.

Arthur said a man, identified as Nur, was arrested for keeping two marijuana joints.

Police also seized two grams of marijuana and two Ecstasy pills, thrown away after their owners realized a police raid was in progress.

Nine of the 22 military personnel were rounded up in two red light districts and several discotheques in North Jakarta.

Seven were arrested while hanging out at the renown red light districts of Kramat Tunggak and Kalijodo.

Police also detained several male visitors and alleged prostitutes at the two centers.

One of the visitors, identified as AH, arrested at Kalijodo had eight Ecstasy pills and Rp 1 million (US$666) in cash on him. Police believe the money had been earned from drug dealing.

The final two Armed Forces members were arrested at discotheques, including the Hailai in Ancol, where women who could not present identity cards were also detained.

At least 60 of the arrested civilians were picked up early Saturday in Cawang, Cililitan, Pulo Gadung and Duren Sawit in East Jakarta.

Police seized two sharp weapons, four envelopes containing marijuana, and around 150 Nipam barbiturate-type pills from them.

Many of them were released after being questioned at local police headquarters. Only those who were caught with drugs or weapons were detained for further investigation. (cst)