Nightspots get green light to reopen

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City gives green light to delinquent nightspots to reopen

JAKARTA: The city administration said on Thursday that it had granted permission for two West Jakarta nightspots, forced to shut down for selling ecstasy, to reopen after the management promised in writing to ban drugs from being sold on the premises.

Governor Sutiyoso said the management of the singing hall at the New Barcelona and the karaoke lounge at Hotel Travel had submitted written statements, saying that they would not provide patrons with drugs on the premises.

His decision was in contradiction to his reaction on Monday when reporters said both establishments had reopened just several days after they were closed by authorities. At that time, Sutiyoso blasted the management of the two nightspots, vowing to take stern action against them.

The governor led a raid in the early morning of May 13 on the New Barcelona in the Lokasari area, which resulted in the seizure of 16 ecstasy pills and the arrest of three suspects: the manager, a security guard and a waitress.

On May 16 before dawn, Sutiyoso led a second raid on the singing hall at Hotel Travel on Jl. Mangga Besar, which resulted in the seizure of 13 ecstasy pills. Two suspects were arrested: the hall's deputy manager and the public relations manager.

City councillors lauded the governor's action, but questioned why only small nightspots were targeted. They considered the raids to be an image booster for him ahead of the next gubernatorial race.

In other matters, Sutiyoso said he would dismiss a civil servant, Wahyudi, at the West Jakarta mayoralty's tourism agency if he was found guilty of trafficking marijuana.

Police reportedly raided the man's house in the Matraman area of East Jakarta on Tuesday night, seizing four kilograms of marijuana.

Wahyudi escaped, but his wife, Titin, was arrested by police.--JP