31 youngsters netted for loitering in Blok M
31 youngsters netted for loitering in Blok M
JAKARTA (JP): Police arrested 31 youths in Blok M, South
Jakarta, for loitering Wednesday night.
A South Jakarta Police precinct sergeant said yesterday the
juveniles, mostly senior high school students, were arrested on
Jl. Melawai, Jl. Panglima Polim and Jl. Sampit between 11:30 p.m
and 3 a.m.
"It's a routine operation intended to prevent the youths from
causing any trouble in the area," he said.
He said a machete was confiscated from one of the youths.
Ade, a student of SMAN 74, said yesterday she and her friend
Velina were waiting for a friend in a park on Jl. Sampit when
they were arrested.
She said they were hanging around Blok M Plaza and planned to
stay at Velina's home on Jl. RS. Fatmawati.
"The police told us that we would be released at 9 a.m. but
until now (about 3 p.m.) we have not been released," said the 17-
year-old from Tangerang.
Another detained girl asked the police not to phone her
father. "Please, don't phone my father. He will kill me. Let me
phone my mom," she said.
But the officer insisted they would be released only after
their parents signed a letter stating they would stop their
children loitering in the area at night.
"Some of the juveniles have been caught two or three times.
Some of them even slept on the streets in the Blok M area," the
officer said.
He said police had trouble taking stern action against the
youths because most were underaged.
Meanwhile, police have detained 18 people caught at
discotheques in West Jakarta for allegedly consuming drugs.
A West Jakarta Police precinct officer said 53 guests from
several discotheques including Emerald, Raja Mas, Furama and
Atlantik, were arrested Wednesday night.
He said 35 of the 53 people arrested were released after
police found nothing suspicious on them. The remaining 18 had to
give a urine sample.
"We are waiting for the results of their urine tests," the
officer said.
In Central Jakarta, three men were arrested for possessing 30
Ecstasy pills and a few grams of marijuana when police raided
discotheques Wednesday night.
Marimba discotheque at Hotel Sentral on Jl. Pramuka and some
discotheques on Jl. Blora were among the discotheques raided.
(jun)