Medan Police uncover strippers in the act

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.