Money talks in Kalijodo complex
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Money talks. Even though prostitution and gambling is officially illegal, the Kalijodo red light area in Pejagalan subdistrict, North Jakarta, which later also developed into a gambling den, had been going strong for five decades.
At least 600 brothels and gambling dens had been established in the complex before it was officially "closed down" two weeks ago. Each brothel could earn at least Rp 15 million (US$1,300) in just one night, while the gambling dens could make Rp 50 million per night.
Head of Pejagalan subdistrict, W. Budiyono, said in one night the money generated could reach at least Rp 2 billion.
No wonder various institutions were believed to be backing up the illegal activities, including the police, the military and the two mayoralties of North and West Jakarta.
Kalijodo has for long been under the control of three notorious ethnic groups of hoodlums -- the ethnic Mandar gangsters from South Sulawesi, led by H. Usman; the ethnic Banten gangsters, led by Agus; and the ethnic Makassar gangsters from South Sulawesi, led by Aziz.
The Mandars operate in the northern part of Kalijodo, the Bantens in the south, and the Makassars in between the Mandar and the Banten dens.
Up to recently, the Mandars ran at least 300 brothels and gambling dens, the Makassars 180, while the rest belonged to the Bantens.
Every gang has a nick name, with the Mandars usually being referred to as the Macan or Mandar Cantik ("beautiful Mandar"), the Makassars as the Jenta or Makassar Jeneponto (meaning ethnic Makassars from Jeneponto regency in South Sulawesi) and the Bantens as the Anak Kulon (meaning kids from Kulon, the southern part of Banten province).
With the exception of the Makassar gang, the other gangs are cultivated by different authorities.
The back-up was even admitted by Budiyono, who said this made it difficult for the city administration to really shut down Kalijodo.
The Mandars are believed to be backed up by the North Jakarta police district and officials from the mayoralty.
Narno, not his real name, a Kalijodo native whose house is located right in front of the Mandar gang's headquarters, believed a high ranking one-star police officer stationed at National Police Headquarters, supported the Mandars.
"The Mandar gang is well informed when it comes to raids in Kalijodo. They close their operations when the police were about to come. The Makassars, however, are always in trouble when raids come as they don't have any back-up from the authorities," said Narno, a close friend of several of the top dogs among the Mandars.
The Banten gang, whose operations are inside West Jakarta jurisdiction, are believed to be backed up by the West Jakarta District police, especially by the Tambora subprecinct, and some low-ranking officers from Kopassus (the Army's Special Forces).
"The Banten boys are never arrested by the local police," said Acong, a member of the Mandar gang.
Police and military support was admitted by Pepenk, not his real name, one of the Banten gang leaders.
"When three of our gambling dens were burnt by the Mandars, we were about to hit back at them," he said, referring to the recent brawl between the two ethnic groups, which led to the city administration's order to close the place.
"However, the Tambora police prevented us from doing so, saying it would cause a wide-scale war, not just between the gangsters but also between police forces from different districts. A high-ranking officer later promised that after the situation had calmed down, he would help our business."
Pepenk even added that the Tambora district chief, Mashuri, had said the Banten gang could rebuild the same dens on the same soil after their eviction by the city administration last week.
Mashuri was not available for comment.
Seno, a pimp operating in Kalijodo, also admitted that the police from the Tambora and Penjaringan subprecincts often came to his brothel asking for money.
"Usually I give them between Rp 50,000 and Rp 100,000. They also sometimes ask for free drinks, cigarettes or women," revealed Seno, who has been operating in the complex for 12 years.
The chief of the Penjaringan subprecinct, Adj.Com. Khrisna Murti, denied the accusation saying it was too risky for him or his men to back up the Kalijodo hoodlums.
"I've never known any of my men to be involved in backing up these businesses. I'm proud that during my 10-month stint here, Kalijodo has been entirely closed, which means I'm not in their pockets. They, the Mandars, came to my office several times, but I refused to meet them," said Khrisna.