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)