Nine officers mobbed in raid

JAKARTA (JP): Nine city public order officers were injured during an operation against illegal gambling activities in the Mangga Dua area of Central Jakarta on Wednesday evening, an official said on Thursday.

"Nine officers were mobbed by security guards, who were watching over some amusement centers in Mangga Dua area, which have allegedly been involved in gambling activities," Deputy Governor for Administrative Affairs Abdul Kahfi told reporters after chairing a leadership meeting of city authorities at City Hall, which was held to support efforts to restore order and security in the capital.

The raid was held over the whole of Wednesday and the clash between the city officials and the amusement centers' security guards broke out at 8 p.m., when some 30 officers were about to seal several amusement centers on the third floor of the Harco Mangga Dua electronic stores complex.

Among the nine were Heri S. and Nasiman, who both suffered serious injuries after being beaten with blunt weapons and are now undergoing treatment at the Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital.

Kahfi said that despite the resistance from amusement center security guards, the city administration would continue with its program to reestablish order and security for Jakartans.

"The amusement centers are now being closely guarded 24 hours a day by city public order officials," he said.

Data at the City Public Order Office shows that the administration has sealed 40 amusement centers in the capital for allegedly being centers of gambling in the past week. (lup)