Gambling mounts, police do not act

JAMBI: Illegal gambling has been on the rise in Jambi with the increasing sale of numerous kinds of gambling coupons downtown in Jambi City over the last two weeks.

Most distributors sell the gambling coupons for a "numbers game" in public places such as food stalls and traditional markets between 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., with prices ranging from Rp 1,000 to Rp 10,000.

The police have refused to do anything about the illegal gambling.

Reliable sources in the city said gambling was supported by corrupt local businessmen and security officials.

Eman, an admitted gambler, concurred on Wednesday and said that the games could only be stopped if the police and military, who back the gambling, as well as the agents, were punished as harshly as possible. --Antara