Military to hand over photographs of Yorris

JAKARTA (JP): City military command says it has incriminating evidence about the alleged gambling activities of Yorris Raweyai, a Golkar representative in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

The command spokesman, Lt. Col. DJ. Nachrowi, said yesterday the personnel who detained Yorris during a recent raid on entertainment centers would hand over pictures which allegedly depicted Yorris gambling prior to his arrest.

Yorris, who is also an executive of the Golkar-affiliated Pemuda Pancasila youth organization, was detained at the Kiss Me entertainment center on Jl. Gajah Mada in West Jakarta on Jan. 29.

Nachrowi said military police officers involved in the raid were ready to make statements to city police about the arrest of Yorris, 47.

"We are even prepared to conduct a reenactment if the police think the evidence is still inadequate," he said after attending a post-Idul Fitri gathering at command headquarters.

The command submitted evidence, including gambling chips worth Rp 7 million, to city police when they handed over Yorris and 11 other alleged gamblers.

According to earlier reports, police released Yorris and seven other suspected gamblers on the same day as the arrest due to a lack of evidence.

Golkar deputy chairman Abdul Gafur summoned Yorris to his office Wednesday and later quoted him as denying the charge. Yorris told Gafur he was attending the Chinese New Year celebration.

On Friday, Jakarta Police chief Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata said his personnel needed the military command's help to collect evidence and testimony before anyone was charged.

Nachrowi said yesterday the command would continue investigating Yorris, who was allegedly caught red-handed gambling at the venue.

"As a youth leader he should have acted as a role model instead of setting a bad example (to the group's members)."

He said several parties -- including newspapers and city police -- have received telephone threats from unidentified callers telling them to stop releasing news on the gambling incident.

"Apparently, the threats have not reached our office yet," he said, challenging the mysterious callers.

Yorris, who was arrested in July 1994 by police during a similar raid, was elected as an MPR member in October last year. (jun)