33 arrested in red-light districts

BOGOR (JP): The Bogor administration's public order unit arrested 33 people Tuesday in raids in the town's red-light districts.

Regency spokesman Hari Harsono said 18 prostitutes, 14 transsexuals and a male customer had been arrested.

"We hope these raids can wake them up, make them change their lives and start living normal lives," Hair said.

He said the arrests had occurred at popular nightspots on Jl. Raya Pajajaran, Jl. Juanda and Jl. Kapten Muslihat.

He said some of the prostitutes had been arrested after making deals with undercover officers.

The prostitutes were aged between 14 and 50 but many were teenagers, Hari said.

He said most of the prostitutes came from Baturaja in Palembang, Tebet in South Jakarta and Pandeglang and Sukabumi in West Java.

"They were paid between Rp 25,000 and Rp 100,000," he said.

Many of them said financial problems had forced them into prostitution, Hari said. Others blamed it on bad treatment by former lovers.

"My husband left me on the second day of our marriage," Hari quoted Nia, 20, as saying.

But one said she worked as a prostitute for pleasure and used the money for gambling. "I did it for fun," said nineteen-year- old Ela.

The 18 prostitutes have been taken to the Rehabilitation Center in Sukabumi, West Java, where they will attend a three- month skills course.

The 14 transsexuals and the male customer were released after signing statements at the local Social Service Office saying that they would never again engage in the sex trade. (24/cst)