Gamblers netted in night raid on W. Jakarta club

JAKARTA (JP): Police arrested 134 suspected gamblers, including 34 females, in a raid on the Bonus amusement center on the fourth floor of the Asemka building in Pinangsia, West Jakarta, on Friday evening.

A total of Rp 103 million in cash, 120 gambling machines and 200 tokens were seized, city police Chief Detective Col. Gories Mere told the media yesterday.

Among those arrested was Eddy Lay, 35, a gambling operator who has been on the police most wanted list for about a year, the officer said.

According to Gories, the raid was conducted by 50 officers from the Jakarta Police and National Police Headquarters.

"The place has been under surveillance for quite some time. We suspected it was not just an amusement arcade because many noted gamblers were often spotted hanging around there," he said.

The police team rushed into the crowded amusement arcade at about 8:35 p.m.

"We also positioned a back-up squad to guard the surrounding area and prevent any suspects from escaping," Gories said.

All of the alleged gamblers are being detained at the city police headquarters pending further investigation.

"We are currently questioning them. If there is not enough evidence to convict them they will be released shortly, but we already have enough information to charge some of them," he added.

For years police in the city have had an impressive record of arresting gamblers but almost none of the people detained have ever been brought to court.

It has been alleged that detained gamblers are set free if they pay an unspecified sum of money.

However city police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman promised to treat the suspects according to the existing law and to closely monitor material evidence confiscated from the arcade.

"If there are officers who try to play around with this case they will be punished. Our Internal Affairs personnel will closely monitor developments," Noegroho said.

An officer, who asked for anonymity, said yesterday that most of the gamblers netted on Friday were also heavily involved in gambling activities in the Kali Jodo and Mangga Besar areas.

"These gamblers were usually smart enough to avoid police raids, but this time they did not get away with it because we caught them red-handed," he said.

Gories said that police would continue to crack down on gambling dens because they were often associated with prostitution and drug transactions.

At the same time on Friday, police raided the Flaminggo 123 amusement arcade on Jl. Hayam Wuruk only to find it was empty.

The place was reportedly being used as a gambling den in defiance of a police order forcing its closure.

Noegroho vowed to take firm action against the owner of Flaminggo 123 for ignoring the police order. (edt)