Gang of 10 men robs North Jakarta amusement center

JAKARTA (JP): A gang of at least 10 men, some dressed in military uniform, broke into an amusement center in Pluit, North Jakarta, late Saturday and made off with Rp 6 million in cash.

The gang arrived in two Kijang vans at the Mickey Mouse amusement center, which is located in the Lucky Plaza compound, at about 10 p.m. They used wooden bars to smash the center's glass doors, according to Yono, who identified himself as one of the nightspot's managers.

"Some of them wore combat troop uniforms, one or two were attired in military police uniforms and some others were in regular clothes," he told The Jakarta Post at the venue on Sunday.

Ten of the gang members rushed inside the games arena and threatened patrons, he added.

Although he disclosed the amount of cash stolen, Yono refused to discuss the incident further, saying it was a private matter.

"It's really not anybody's business," he said tersely as he left the site.

Officers of the nearby Penjaringan police subprecinct said they were informed of the robbery.

"But the man in charge to talk to about this is not at the office right now. You can meet him on Monday," said one of the officers, Maj. Sgt. Markum, referring to his supervisor, Penjaringan subprecinct chief Maj. Prastawa Wahyu Hidayat.

Employees of the center, better known as MM, were reportedly instructed by the management to keep quiet about the robbery.

"The MM manager has briefed his employees not to talk to anyone about last night's incident," said plaza security guard Sukma.

But reliable sources said two members of the gang had grabbed the money after threatening the center's cashier.

On Sunday, the amusement center, which operates dozens of pinball machines and billiard tables, had reopened and a carpenter was busy replacing the damaged doors with plywood boards.

A source identified the owner of the entertainment center as Rudy, a Chinese-Indonesian who also owns at least eight other nightspots in the capital.

Lucky Plaza is also home to a discotheque, karaoke hall, pub and massage parlor.

Handojo, owner of the Barengan karaoke and pub at the plaza, said he had assumed the disturbance at the adjacent club was a routine police raid.

"I know that MM is often raided by police or army members in their gambling or drug operations.

"So when last night my boys told me that army members broke into the place, I thought it was an ordinary operation."

Separately, Tangerang was tense on Saturday midnight when hundreds of angry residents of Gerendeng subdistrict flocked to Jl. Merdeka, preparing to attack the Model karaoke bar which they believed offered prostitutes.

The prompt arrival of riot police and military personnel helped calm the mob and no damage was reported.

Police confirmed that nobody was arrested and the people dispersed peacefully at about 1 a.m. on Sunday.

Fear of the unrest spreading led a number of discotheques and singing halls throughout Tangerang to close their doors temporarily.

Most of the establishments remain open until the morning on the weekend.

Gerendeng residents said they had informed the authorities and the owner of the singing hall on many occasions about their dislike of the prostitution practices.

"We have complained about its existence for years but nobody, including the authorities, wanted to listen," said a senior resident. (emf/41/bsr)