Money lost at fitness center

I'm a foreigner who has been working in Jakarta for 10 months and I applied for membership at the Cergas Fitness Center in Hotel Ibis Tamarin.

On June 8, 2000, a staff member at the fitness center informed me that the lockers were all taken and I would have to leave my bag with the staff at the counter while I exercised. I did so, feeling I didn't have any other choice. I also believed that, because it was a good hotel, the staff would take good care of my bag.

After I finished exercising I went to my apartment and later checked my wallet. I found that Rp 800,000 of my money was missing. I immediately called the fitness center to inform the staff what had happened. But the Ibis Hotel staff told me they could not help me and asked me a stupid question: Why did I take so much money to the fitness center?

Then they questioned how they could be sure that I had the money? I was upset with the loss of so much money and it's not fair that someone would rub salt in the wound by asking such a foolish question.

I know there is very little chance that I will get my money back, but in my opinion the top management could have taken more care in handling the case.

What should the hotel do if the possessions of a guest is lost?

How will you deal with the staff member who received my bag, from which the money was lost?

What is the responsibility of the management when a case like this often happens in the hotel, yet the hotel has done nothing to improve its control and supervision system? Does the hotel condone the theft?

I don't know what to do because I am a foreigner.

PRACHA TANSAENEE

Technical Advisor

PT Mobilkom Telekomindo

Jakarta