Ethnic gangster groups in war to grab hot money

Ethnic gangster groups in war to grab hot money

Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The three notorious gang leaders of the Kalijodo brothel and
gambling complex in Pejagalan subdistrict, North Jakarta, emerged
to take it over at the same time in 1994.

Up until that time, several gangs feuded for control, but only
three managed to survive in the end.

Once in Kalijodo, there were five ethnic gangs, with members
from places as far away as Madura in East Java, Makassar, Bugis
and Mandar in South Sulawesi, and Banten.

Over time, the Maduranese and the Bugis failed to compete. The
Madurese lost to Mandar in a fierce gang war in the 1990s as well
as the Bugis who also lost to Mandar.

The year 1994 was the year of succession for the Mandar and
the Makassar gangs.

The late Kamilon, who reigned between the 1970s and 1980s,
inherited the throne from his nephew, H. Usman.

The Makassar, meanwhile, crowned their new "Godfather", Aziz,
after their leader, Leang, was believed to have been killed by
the Mandar in 1993.

As for the Banten gang, Agus, 44, the first "Godfather",
explained there have been no organized hoodlums from Banten in
Kalijodo.

Agus was once a small-time koprok croupier in 1975. He
originally came from Serang in Banten province, before migrating
to Jakarta in 1970.

"I took power after saving some money from 30 years of
gambling. It was a lucrative spot to open a gambling business, as
the place was crowded already by visitors looking for commercial
sex workers," said Agus, who was surrounded by seven huge
bodyguards, when interviewed by The Jakarta Post.

Agus, who only studied until the third grade of elementary
school, currently runs 117 gambling parlors which generate as
much as Rp 400 million (around US$40,000) per day.

As for the brothel, Agus said he had none. His three gambling
spots in Kalijodo were burned down during the recent riots
between the Makasar and the Mandar gang members.

Agus claimed to have six houses scattered around Jakarta, and
four cars -- a Nissan Terrano, a Suzuki Baleno, a Honda CRV and a
new Toyota Kijang.

He also used the money from gambling to support his men, who
are paid between Rp 500,000 and Rp 3,000,000 per month.

"I only have 100 men in Kalijodo, but if a war breaks out, I
can just call my friends in Serang and Pandegelang to storm
Jakarta, which altogether could reach at least 7,000," boasted
Agus.

A Mandar gang member, Acong, said Usman had at least 3,000 men
recruited from remote villages in South Sulawesi.

"He recruited youths between 13 and 15 years old to be sent to
Jakarta. They were fed and trained on gambling and brothel
premises," said Acong, who was recruited in 1998 when he was 15.

The Mandar concentrated on some 300 brothels and gambling
parlors. They built two headquarters, one in Kalijodo and the
other on Jl. Terusan Bidara.

Narno, not his real name, -- a local resident who was a close
ally of the highest-ranking gang member of the Mandar -- said the
gang was run by Usman, and his younger brother, H. Yusuf, better
known as Sakera. The last acted as the leader of the gang war.

"Usman was about to hand over his throne to Sakera. The last
two years was the time of power transition from Usman to Sakera.
However, Sakera always made trouble by starting wars between
Makassar and Banten gang," said Narno.

The Makassar gang's leader, Aziz, is currently detained by
North Jakarta district police officials for pointing a gun at
Adj. Comr. Khrisna Murti, the chief of the Penjaringan
subprecinct, during a brawl with the Mandar last month.

W. Budiyono, chief of Pejagalan subdistrict who had earlier
served as the head of subdistrict's Public Order office for 15
years, said the Mandar and the Makassar gangs have been fighting
for ages. While the Banten gang was affected, as their area is
located just a stone's throw away from the Makassar's area.