Night spots in Pondok Aren closed

Night spots in Pondok Aren closed

TANGERANG (JP): Fourteen night spots in Pondok Aren believed
to be used for sex transactions were sealed on Thursday night by
a joint military, police and public order office team.

The establishments, which include the Zodiac discotheque and
several dimly lit food stalls, had been the object of repeated
complaints from local residents.

"Their existence really disturbed our peaceful community,"
said one villager.

Pondok Aren is located near the Bintaro Jaya residential area.

The night spots were marked with a notice glued to their front
doors that read "Closed by the authorities".

A clash almost broke out several days before the closings when
a group of 50 men, believed to be hired by the establishments and
armed with torches, searched the village for a person they
believed to have incited the community against the night spots.

Police officers, however, reportedly arrived on the scene in
time to defuse the situation.

Marup, a local resident, said a villager had repeatedly
complained to officials about the night spots, but that no action
was taken.

Besides objecting to the illegal sex transactions, the
villagers also complained that the night spots were too close to
a local mosque.

Police said on Friday that the establishments' owners had been
detained for questioning at the local police office.

"Besides that, we had to secure the owners for their own
safety because the people were already upset," said a police
officer.

According to Tangerang regency spokeswoman Ena Karlina, the
closure of the 14 night spots was carried out "to avoid any
possibility of riots". (24/bsr)