400 nightspots operate illegally

JAKARTA (JP): Over 400 nightspots in West Jakarta operate without any permit and many of them have turned into flesh markets, an official said.

Head of the West Jakarta tourism agency, Haryanto, said that the practice of prostitution takes place at certain hotels and massage centers, BeritaJakarta.com reported.

Those that operate illegally include cinemas, hotels, restaurants, bars, karaoke parlors, game centers, discotheques, and hairdressers. They can easily be found in Cengkareng, Kalideres, Grogol, Petamburan and Tamansari.

Haryanto also said that most entertainment centers, including those that have obtained permits, operate beyond opening hours, sometimes for 24 hours, even though they are supposed to close at 2 a.m.

He said that he was still discussing the problems with some 170 businessmen who run entertainment centers to find a solution.

According to Hartono, this year the city administration had collected between Rp 18 billion and Rp 20 billion in entertainment tax.

It is reported that illegal entertainment centers have also become the milch cows of certain police officers and city officials.