Councilors nabbed for gambling

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.