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)