Another raid on gamblers

JAKARTA (JP): Police arrested 93 people and confiscated Rp 52.9 million during a raid yesterday on an illicit gambling den in West Jakarta, the City Police spokesman said.

It was the second raid in the last three days.

Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said police confiscated gambling equipment, including pin ball machines, coins and cards, during the raid on the den on the fifth floor of Gajah Mada Hotel on Jl. Gajah Mada, West Jakarta.

The gambling den's alleged supervisors, Sutedi and Aweng, were among those arrested.

Three people claimed to be cashiers and 18 others said they were employees of the den. None of them claimed to be gamblers.

"They are all being detained at the West Jakarta police precinct," Aritonang said.

Aritonang said police were still investigating the hotel management's link to the illegal business.

"If the hotel's management is found to have provided the former bar for gambling activities, it could face charges," he said.

But the room might have officially been rented for another purpose and used for gambling without the hotel management's knowledge, he said.

On Friday, police also raided illicit gambling dens in Central and West Jakarta. One hundred and seventy one people were arrested in the busts, although only 30 of them were detained for gambling.

Hundreds of people have been arrested during raids on gambling dens since last year, but, no one has been sent to court. (04)