Military to hand over photographs of Yorris
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)