It's not easy to curb gambling: Criminologist

JAKARTA (JP): A criminologist says that recent crackdowns on illicit gambling dens would not deter gamblers.

The University of Indonesia's Adrianus Meliala said yesterday raids on gambling dens were usually the result of a temporary agreement to test the readiness of law enforcers.

"A raid could also be conducted to please newly-installed officials, like new police or military chiefs," Adrianus said commenting on recent raids on illegal gambling houses.

Adrianus said most gambling busts were done after tips from those involved in gambling, not because of the law enforcers' plans.

"There are gambling groups that are competing with each other. A gambling hangout might be raided after police get information from another gambling operator. This indicates that raids on gambling dens are not part of legal mechanisms," he said.

On Saturday the military raided a gambling den on Jl. Asemka, West Jakarta, and arrested 382 people.

Early this month the military arrested 331 people when it raided a Mangga Besar gambling den. They were then turned over to the City Police. But only 17 of them could be tried for involvement in gambling syndicate.

A lawyer, who asked not to be named, agreed saying the military's raid was evidence that the raid was a temporary agreement.

"Why did the military conduct the crackdown. That's the job of the police, isn't it?" the lawyer said.

Adrianus said the temporary agreement did not deter gamblers or gambling operators.

Romulus S. Sihombing, a city councilor of the PDI (Indonesian Democratic Party) faction, said in a separate interview that poor law enforcement made gamblers more courageous.

Meanwhile, City Police Spokesman Maj. Nyoman Sutiasa said it was not easy to charge someone with gambling. "We must catch them red handed or we are lacking evidence."

Adrianus said the main problem faced in eradicating gambling was that it had many dimensions.

"Many groups of people have interests in gambling," he said. "Many people love gambling, some government officials need gambling, some law enforcers need gambling as their source of money. If we are aware of this we will not be surprised upon seeing gamblers released soon after being arrested." (sur)