It's not easy to curb gambling: Criminologist
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)