Gamblers will be standing trial: Police
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)