City still considering revoking Hailai's permit
City still considering revoking Hailai's permit
JAKARTA (JP): A high-ranking city officer said he was in favor
of closing the Hailai discotheque in North Jakarta after police
arrested one of its managers for possession of illegal drugs.
"Personally I support the plan given the evidence collected by
the police, but every step should be based on the law," Deputy
Governor for Public Welfare R.S. Museno said on Monday night.
The government can revoke Hailai's permit if the court finds
the suspect guilty as charged, Museno added.
The administration is considering revoking the nightspot's
permit after one of its managers, Hendro Sumampouw, was arrested
for possessing several Ecstasy pills during a predawn raid last
week.
The discotheque is temporarily closed by order of the city
public order office.
An official of the office, Toha Reno, said yesterday the
permit will be revoked as soon as an order to do so from Governor
Surjadi Soedirdja is received.
Permits for entertainment sites are jointly issued by the
tourism office and the public order office.
"Until the governor gives the order we can only seal the
discotheque until the court delivers its sentence," Toha said.
Meanwhile, the director of PT Jaya Ancol, noted developer
Ciputra, regretted the incident and said it tarnished the image
of Ancol Dreamland.
He explained that the building is owned by PT Jaya Ancol but
it cooperates with a private company in running the entertainment
center.
The cooperation is based on a build, operate and transfer
scheme.
The Hailai center consists of a discotheque, a restaurant and
a nightclub.
Ciputra said that the 15-year cooperation scheme was signed
five years ago.
"However, the incident warns us to be more selective in
choosing a partner in the future," he said.
Hendro was apprehended in a predawn raid last week for
possessing seven-and-a-half Ecstasy pills. He was arrested in a
parking lot outside the discotheque as he was parking his car.
The police arrested six other suspects in the operation and
seized 76 Ecstasy pills and 20 marijuana cigarettes.
All of the suspects are being detained at the North Jakarta
Police station.
City officials, police and military members have been cracking
down on city nightspots to reduce crime, mainly drug offenses.
(yns)