Nine officers mobbed in raid

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)