Councilors nabbed for gambling

Blontank Poer, The Jakarta Post/Surakarta

Police personnel on Thursday night arrested the speaker of the Sukoharjo regental council, Wardoyo Wijaya, and fellow councillor, Parjiyo, on charges of gambling in a hotel in Surakarta, Central Java.

Besides arresting the two councillors from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the police also nabbed police officer Adj. Chief. Brig. Mulyadi and four civilians Parwanto Mulyo, Jack Susongko, Suyatno and Anastoko Triwahyono.

From them, police personnel seized gambling cards, cash to the value of Rp 707,000 (US$72) and two cars.

Chief of Surakarta police Sr. Comr. Abdul Madjid said that following the arrest, the police would produce the case file as soon as possible and it would be handed over to prosecutors for follow-up. "There will be no exceptions for them, all are equal before the law. They should have been role models for people, but they failed to be that," said Abdul Madjid.

Sukoharjo is located near Surakarta, a major city in Central Java.

The arrest of a councillor was not the first in Surakarta. Last week, Surakarta police personnel also arrested Nur Sanyoto, a councillor in Karanganyar regency near Surakarta, for possession of drugs along with his wife.

Separately, Wardoyo denied that they played gambling.

"We were gambling for fun, it was not serious gambling. I don't understand why I was arrested by the police personnel," said Wardoyo, quoted by Antara news agency.

Seven people have been named suspects, and if convicted, they could serve a maximum five years in jail.

The arrests came only weeks after chief of National Police Gen. Sutanto declared a nationwide crackdown against gambling.