One dies in gambling den dispute

Evi Mariani, Jakarta

A man, identified as Polse Ulamayanan, 45, was killed, while three others were injured in a fight over the operation of a gambling den on Jl. Mangga Besar Raya, West Jakarta, on Tuesday at around 1:30 a.m.

West Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Suhardi Alius said the police had questioned 30 people. "We released 14 of them, but we are still questioning the remaining 16 -- no one has been detained so far," he said.

The police seized a knife, a machete, a sword and a spear from the crime scene.

Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani said that while his "first priority was to curb street crime", his officers would try to approach the numerous gangs of thugs that operate gambling dens in a nonconfrontational manner.

"While approaching them, we will survey which gangs regularly incite brawls. For such gangs, we will take harsh measures," he said.

The police are yet to issue any statement on whether they will close down gambling dens. Gambling is banned in Indonesia as stipulated by Article 303 of the Criminal Code. The article carries a maximum sentence of six years in prison and a fine of Rp 15 million (US$1,630).

Police reported that the brawl was sparked by the arrival of 30 members of another gang on Tuesday at 12:25 a.m. Carrying various sharp weapons, they started to attack the two-story shop- house which had been turned into a gambling den, run by Polse's gang.

Polse died in the brawl, with wounds to his stomach and other parts of his body, while three members of his gang were injured.

Ricky Ponto suffered a gashed forehead and left arm while Jefri Ponto had gashes on both arms and his back. They were both taken to nearby Husada Hospital.

Another gang member, Sucipto Arifin, suffered a gashed forehead and damage to his right eye. He was taken to Mitra Kemayoran Hospital in Central Jakarta.

Police suspect the attackers are former managers of the gambling den, who were acting out of revenge over the loss of their "business".

Previously, in March, two gangs fought over the security control of a discotheque in Tamansari, West Jakarta. Two people were killed in the fighting.

When the case was tried in June at the West Jakarta District Court on Jl. S. Parman, further brawls erupted, in which gang member Walter Buang was killed and two others were injured.