Medan Police uncover strippers in the act

Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra

Striptease shows have gained in popularity and are being performed regularly at entertainment spots in Medan, where young women dancers can earn from Rp 500,000 (US$60.00) to Rp 1 million an hour.

Equally common nowadays is the sight of policemen catching strippers in the act at karaoke halls and even beverage stalls.

Striptease dancers Susi, 18, and Della, 20 (not their real names), who said they were in the employ of a karaoke hall, were detained on Wednesday by police as they performed a striptease for seven middle-aged men at Buana Plaza here.

The two women, respectively from Tembung and Bandar Khalifah in Deli Serdang regency, were promised Rp 500,000 each from the karaoke customers. But just five minutes after the show, police raided the place. They were taken to Percut Sei Tuan Police station, while the seven men were simply let go.

Susi said that she and Della were initially accompanying the customers singing at the karaoke lounge when a customer requested them to perform a striptease.

"We didn't want to dance naked in the beginning, but they continued to urge us and promised to give us Rp 500,000 for an hour's performance," said Susi, saying that it was the first time she had danced naked for customers.

In another case a month ago, police picked up several women working as striptease dancers from a beverage stall in Medan Marelan district.

Police knew of the illegal activities from a tip-off by residents who were concerned about the practice, said Medan Police chief Sr. Comr. Bagus Kurniawan.

Bagus said the police would clamp down on the illegal acts, saying that it would lead into moral degradation.

He denied that the police had not been impartial in dealing with those implicated in the practice and said he had instructed his subordinates to arrest the seven men who had coerced the two women to dance naked.

"Police are currently investigating this case. If there are indications that the seven men were in the wrong, they will be charged as suspects. We hope to have results within a week," he said.

Separately, social psychologist Emmy Abbas explained several factors that could contribute to young women such as Susi and Della to become emboldened enough to dance naked, including economic hardship and religious upbringing.

"We have to be cautious. If they were showered with care and attention and received solid religious education from their early childhood, they would be able to handle whatever worldly temptations that come," she said.