Korean nabbed in police raid
Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
Jakarta Police arrested a South Korean citizen and two Indonesians during a raid on a gambling den on Wednesday in a shop/office building in the plush Kelapa Gading housing estate, North Jakarta. Police also closed down the den.
"The three suspects -- the gambling den owner, identified as Yun of South Korea, and his two assistants, Yoga and Budi -- are being detained at Jakarta Police Headquarters," Jakarta Police chief of detectives chief Sr. Comr. Mathius Salempang announced on Friday.
Police came across four gamblers in the den -- identified as South Koreans Cheong, Kook, Yang and Lee -- but released them as they were only players. However, the four must report to the city police every Tuesday and Thursday for a month.
Police will charge the suspects with violating Article 303 of the Criminal Code on gambling. The article carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison.
According to the existing law and regulations, including government regulation No. 9/1981, all forms of gambling are a crime. Offenders may be sentenced to a maximum of 10 years in jail or fined up to Rp 10 million (US$1,111).
During the raid, the police also seized Rp 1 million in cash and two jackpot machines, locally known as "Mickey Mouses".
Police said that a player had to buy coins priced at between Rp 100,000 and Rp 1 million at the den to play, with winners pocketing between Rp 900,000 and Rp 12 million in cash.
The police have repeatedly conducted raids on gambling dens in the capital, but, so far, no known arrests have been made of gambling den bosses.
The police have publicly stated that they are trying to fight gambling in the city, however, gambling dens seem to be increasing in number.
It is public knowledge that some police officers "protect" the dens and use them as a source of income, albeit illicit.
In the 1970s, then governor Ali Sadikin legalized gambling in a limited way, by providing several locations for gambling, which were still "protected" by unscrupulous officials who also may have benefited financially.
The city's official revenue earned from gambling taxes was then used to finance development projects in the city. After criticism from ulema and other religious leaders, gambling was later banned.
Incumbent Governor Sutiyoso said in April 2002 that his administration planned to build infrastructure for casinos in Kepulauan Seribu regency. However, his administration failed to implement the plan due to strong oppositions from some public figures.