Gamblers will be standing trial: Police

JAKARTA (JP): City police have pledged to bring all the suspected gamblers who were arrested over the weekend in West Jakarta to court soon.

"We never intend to settle cases out of court," Jakarta Police spokesman Lt. Col. Iman Haryatna said yesterday in response to a question raised by reporters.

"All of the dossiers of the suspects who -- we found -- had strong evidence for allegedly operating and gambling will be handed over immediately to the local prosecutors for further legal process," said Iman.

The reporters quoted several sources as saying that those who were arrested during a raid at illicit gambling dens could easily arrange to be released by handing over a certain amount of money to officers.

During a raid on Sunday morning at a food court in the Lokasari shopping and entertainment center on Jl. Mangga Besar, police netted 183 people, including 49 women, in a dining room on the third floor of the building. They were allegedly gambling on or operating a variety of games.

During the predawn raid, police also seized cash of about Rp 10 million (US$4,255).

All of the people, most of whom are of Chinese descent, were then driven to the Jakarta Police tennis court in the wee hours for further questioning.

"Of the 183 people, only 45 men have been found by the police to have gambled and played certain roles in operating the gambling den," said Iman.

"Similar to many previous cases, we promise that none of them will escape punishment unless they are found not guilty by the court later," the spokesman said.

Last month, for instance, police netted 298 people in two separate gambling dens.

Of the number, 82 were charged with gambling and their dossiers have been handed over to the local prosecutors office, Iman said.

The gambling dens in the city are normally found at entertainment centers in West and North Jakarta.

"Raids against gamblers will be continued," said Iman, who was also at the scene during Sunday's raid. (bsr)