Gamblers netted in night raid on W. Jakarta club

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)