City to rule on closure of Hailai discotheque

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja is expected to decide whether the Hailai discotheque in Ancol, North Jakarta will be closed for good following a court ruling which sentenced its owner to six months probation for possessing marijuana and Ecstasy pills.

Kusaeni Budiantoro, the head of the city public order office, said yesterday that the governor's decision was expected this week after a meeting with officials of the public order office and city tourism agency.

Kusaeni said his office would submit detailed reports on the trial of the disco owner, Hendro Sumampouw, to the governor.

"Just wait until we report the case to the governor, because he's the one who has the authority to make the decision," Kusaeni told reporters.

He declined to say if he would recommend the closure of the disco.

Reliable sources at City Hall said the public order office and tourism agency would recommend the permanent revocation of the Hailai discotheque's permit because the owner was found guilty for having marijuana in his car.

The authorities closed down the discotheque last July after police arrested its boss the same month.

Hendro Sumampouw was arrested during a raid conducted in the discotheque's parking lot. Police discovered two marijuana cigarettes and seven-and-a-half Ecstasy pills in his car.

The administration had announced it would revoke the discotheque's permit for good if the court found Hendro guilty. Last week, the court sentenced the defendant to six months probation and a Rp 5 million (US$2,173.91) fine.

Last week, Deputy Governor for Administrative Affairs Idroes said the city administration was still waiting for a recommendation from the city public order office before it took action against the discotheque.

The city administration has also temporarily closed down several other nightspots which were being used as sites for illegal transactions of drugs.

It is part of the city's campaign to curb drug trafficking in Jakarta. The campaign was launched by the city administration, the city police and the Jakarta Military Command through various operations.

Data provided by the public order office shows that from January to July this year, more than 60,000 Ecstasy pills have been seized in operations conducted at city nightspots, such as discotheques. (yns)