City not to revoke discotheque's permit

JAKARTA (JP): The city administration has decided not to revoke the permit of Hailai discotheque in Ancol, North Jakarta, as closing it down for good would be against the law, an official said on Monday.

The head of the city public order office, Kusaeni Budiantoro, said that there is no regulation allowing authorities to close down the disco. Its boss was found guilty of possession of marijuana. "We can be sued for revoking its operation permit just because its boss is guilty," he said.

Hendro Sumampouw was arrested by the police in July after being caught with marijuana and Ecstasy in his car. Soon after his arrest, Kusaeni had announced that Hailai would be closed down if Hendro was found guilty.

Last month the North Jakarta District Court found Hendro guilty and sentenced him to three months in jail with a six month probationary period, and fined him Rp 5 million (US$2,173). However, Kusaeni said yesterday that after thorough discussion with the relevant authorities, his office had called off the plan to punish the discotheque.

He said Hendro's offense had nothing to do with Hailai as he was arrested outside the discotheque, and the court accepted that the marijuana in his car did not belong to him. The prosecutor had earlier decided not to charge Hendro with possession of the seven Ecstasy pills found in his vehicle.

No reasons were given for this.

Governor Surjadi Soedirdja had also asked him to consider the employees fate before punishing the nightclub.

"What will happen to them if we revoke the permit? There are more than 300 people working there," he said.

Hailai contributes to the city's revenues and is a tourist attraction, he said.

"Each night about 600 people visit the discotheque and 40 percent of the visitors are foreigners," he said.

The authority closed Hailai down temporarily when Hendro was arrested. The disco opened again last Saturday. (yns)