Money talks in Kalijodo complex

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.